Incinerator blaze: smoke billows out from the Bermondsey blaze yesterday evening
While the Environment Agency reckons all is safe and sound at the Viridor incinerator in Beddington, a massive blaze broke out close to another waste incineration plant in south London around the evening rush hour yesterday.
Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled the blaze at the incinerator on Landmann Way in Bermondsey, not far from The Den football stadium.
It took more than six hours for the fire to be brought under control, with London Fire Brigade crews on-site overnight to ensure safety.
Massive plumes of smoke were visible across central London from just before 6pm, with Sky News transmitting live images of the fire from their fixed-position television cameras at Westminster, more than three miles from the fire.
People living nearby were advised to keep their doors and windows closed.
Rail services to and from London Bridge were disrupted, as the line passed adjacent to the scene of the fire.
Long battle: it took 100 firefighters more than six hours to get the fire under control
The London Fire Brigade described the fire as being at “a recycling centre”. Incinerator operators have since confirmed that the fire was at the waste recycling centre operated by Hinkcroft Transport Ltd adjacent to SELCHP.
The South East London Combined Heat and Power plant – SELCHP – incinerator has been operating for more than 30 years. It was the first waste incinerator to operate within EU environmental rules in Britain. Today is is managed by Veolia.
“At its height, the fire involved a large amount of refuse and the roof of a warehouse unit. A van and a car were also destroyed by the fire. One man was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service.
“Due to the significant amount of smoke in the area, local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
“Loose embers were also reported, which is normal during large fires. Residents were advised to pour water onto them if they were concerned about loose embers on or near their properties, but if they did catch something alight, to call 999 immediately.”
Two of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders were deployed to the scene to help fight the fire from above.
Working into the night: the LFB has issued safety advice to residents affected by smoke, and how to deal with burning embers from the fire
The Brigade’s Drone Team were also in attendance and provided the incident commander with an aerial view of the fire.
A Hose Layer Unit was also at the scene, supporting front line appliances by laying large capacity hose lines over long distances to supply water to the fire ground.
Control Officers took the first of multiple calls at 5.32pm and mobilised crews from Deptford, Old Kent Road, Greenwich and surrounding fire stations to the scene.
The fire was under control by 11.57pm.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
SELCHP and the Beddington incinerators are operated separately, though both were commissioned by groups of local councils keen to find cheaper ways of disposing of rubbish.
The Viridor incinerator at Beddington Lane has had its application to increase the amount of waste burned approved by the Environment Agency, which discounted nearly 1,000 licence breaches in an 18-month period as “marginal” and “insignificant”, “… and extremely unlikely to have resulted in any environmental or human health impacts”.
There have also been frequent fires at the Beddington incinerator.
The Environment Agency conducted two public consultations over the Viridor incinerator’s permit application. Croydon Council, under Mayor Jason Perry, did not respond to either of them.
Read more: Perry’s council failed to respond to incinerator consultation
Read more: ‘Sickening’: EA allows even more waste to burn in Beddington
Read more: Viridor is using PR firm with links to Labour Together scandal
Read more: Infant death rates were up by 233% after incinerator fired up
*This report was updated at 12.30pm to clarify the location of the fire
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