Date: 19th November, 2021
Good progress is being made in tackling a large fire at a waste transfer site on the outskirts of Devizes, which broke out on Wednesday night (17 November).
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was initially called to the Grist Environmental Material Recovery Facility on Monument Hill, Stert in response to an incident involving approximately 300 tonnes of residual waste materials engulfed in fire.
Since then, the Service has maintained an operational attendance on site, and is now utilising a high-volume pumping appliance to supply water to the incident ground. As a result of this operation, temporary traffic lights have been installed on the A342, to protect fire hose lines that have had to be laid across the carriageway.
Firefighters are working with on-site staff using mechanical means to extinguish waste affected by the fire so it can be moved from the site.
Group Manager Stuart Gillion said: “Good progress is being made in tackling the fire, and the on-site staff have been working hard to move waste from the affected part of the facility, working in conjunction with our crews. It’s likely that we will remain on scene through the weekend, and the traffic control measures will also stay in place until the response provided by the high-volume pumping appliance is no longer required.”
He added: “I know that local people are being impacted by this incident, and I thank them for bearing with us. We continue to monitor the effect of the fire on the community, supported by colleagues in Wiltshire Council who have installed air monitoring equipment in the area, and we hope to bring our operations to a close as quickly as we can.”
While there is expected to be less smoke being emitted from the site by Sunday, it is forecast that it could affect other areas as the wind changes, therefore air quality monitoring has been extended accordingly. Anyone experiencing the smoke in their location is advised to keep doors and windows closed as a precaution.
The fire is believed to have started accidentally, although the exact cause may never be established.