Firefighters are battling a large blaze at a recycling plan in Edinburgh that began yesterday.
With smoke clouds visible as far away as Fife, the blaze has so far required the efforts of six fire engines and four specialised appliances. The Biffa plant, located on West Shore Road, has already had its roof cave in and the steel structure is beginning to buckle. Furthermore, the fire, at its height, required eight firefighters to enter the building in oxygen masks.
Fire Group Manager Robert Taylor said on the scene that the call about the fire came in around 5.25 am and personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. Mr Taylor said that the initial crews quickly called for backup and more firefighters were dispatched from elsewhere in Edinburgh. He added that due to nearby fuel tanks in the area, it was vital that the blaze was contained quickly.
As of now, the crews have contained the worst of the fire and it is now being managed by a smaller force of workers. There continues to be concern over the structural integrity of the building, however, as one section of the roof has already collapsed. According to fire teams, the blaze was substantial and smoke can be seen across the city.
A Biffa employee said that the smoke can in fact be seen from miles away. He added that he arrived at work this morning from Rosyth and could see the smoke cloud well before arriving at the site. He also said that Biffa has told all employees that there will be no work today.
A spokesman for Biffa commented, saying that the fire potentially originated with the arrival of new material to the plant. The Biffa plant processed mostly recycled waste collected locally in Edinburgh, including paper, cardboard and plastics.
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