Black Country recycling plant in massive fire
More than 100 scrap cars went up in smoke after a fire broke out at a Black Country recycling plant.
Fire crews from Walsall and the surrounding area were called to Recycling Lives on Tramway Road in Darlaston after the fire had broken out around late morning on Saturday, October 16.
The fire had spread among scrap and cars on the site and produced a smoke cloud which could be seen as far away as West Bromwich and Wolverhampton. More than 50 firefighters battled the fire.
Roads near the site were closed off to traffic and cars travelling on the M6 and Black Country Route were forced to reduce speed due to the smoke.
Gerry Marshall, CEO of Recycling Lives, was relieved none of his staff were harmed during the fire.
He said: “We are incredibly grateful for the rapid response of the West Midlands Fire Service in quickly containing the fire and that no one was harmed.
“We have as a matter of urgency begun to investigate the cause of the fire and will be liaising with the fire service on this matter.”
A spokesman for West Midlands Fire Service said: "We have approx 50 firefighters and specialist resources at an incident in Tramway Close, Darlaston involving over 100 cars that were in the process of being recycled.
"Local residents should avoid the area and keep their windows closed due to heavy smoke logging in the area."
Firefighters said "good progress" had been made by the early evening. Crews were able to limit the fire spread.
