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Crews fight large fire at waste management plant

Shaun Jackson Biffa's three-storey brown-brick building, with Biffa written in white on a red sign on its front wall. Smoke can be seen billowing from behind the building and about seven workers in bright orange fluorescent jackets and trousers standing in a car park in front of the building. A fire engine can be seen parked to the side.Shaun Jackson
West Midlands Fire Service was called to the fire shortly after 13:00 GMT

Fire crews have been sent to the scene of a "severe" blaze at a recycling plant in Aldridge, Walsall.

West Midlands Fire Service said up to 60 firefighters attended the incident on Saturday at Biffa Waste Management on Westgate.

The fire service, which said everyone at the site was accounted for, urged members of the public to avoid the area and keep windows and doors shut.

It stated the blaze appeared to have begun "in a recycling compactor with an unknown quantity of waste alight", which had generated a lot of smoke in the area.

Fire crews were called to the scene at 13:12 GMT.

The facility there deals with household, industrial and commercial waste.

West Midlands Fire Service Drone footage showing the top of the premises, in which the roofs of multiple units are revealed. The image is a composite of two photos - one revealing the site as it appeared to firefighters in infrared and the other using regular photographyWest Midlands Fire Service
West Midlands Fire Service used a drone to monitor hotspots

Ten fire engines, a hydraulic platform and a drone were deployed.

The drone was used to reveal hotspots to allow firefighters to identify where to concentrate their efforts.

Mark Smith Smoke going high into the air in the distance. Rooftops and some trees are in the foreground.Mark Smith
This photo taken from a nearby housing estate shows the extent of the smoke
Liam Edwards Smoke billowing into the sky from the top of a large brick building. The building is pictured from the street and has no windows visible. Trees can be seen growing next to it.Liam Edwards
Local resident Liam Edwards saw smoke billowing from the waste management facility shortly after 14:00 GMT

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