Waterbeach: Fire Could Burn For Weeks

2 April 2013, 16:53 | Updated: 2 April 2013, 17:14

Firefighters say a fire inside a Cambridgeshire recycling centre could burn for weeks.

The fire at the Amey Cespa Waste Management Centre, just off the A10 at Waterbeach, broke out on the morning of Easter Sunday.

Fire crews from across the area were called to help deal with the incident, which was bought under control within a few hours.

However the fire, made up of around 800 tonnes of waste, has continued to burn and smoulder since.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service Station Commander Martin Ockenden said: "It's a significant challenge, a large quantity of flammable material, and we are faced with what could be a long, drawn-out burning process."

Fire crews now plan to cut open the side of the building containing the fire, releasing smoke from inside and allowing firefighters easier access inside the facility to fight the fire faster.

Station Commander Ockenden added: "I don't think there is likely to be a significant amount of smoke coming out initially.

We will increase our resources on site and apply some more water should we need to, once we create the opening."

Nobody was hurt in the fire, and an investigation into the cause of it will be carried out once it is fully extinguished.