Fire crews were called to a large fire at a recycling site in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, in the early hours of 8 November 2024
As reported by ITV News, the blaze at the Wallace Way site broke out at 2.30 am with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue (HFRS) receiving around 60 emergency calls regarding the fire.
HFRS Fire Control said they had managed “a large amount of appliance movements and multi-agency communications”, with six fire appliances and two aerial ladder platforms sent to the incident. Additionally, several roads were closed to enable firefighters to “set up a high-volume pump”.
By midday, firefighters said the fire had been “contained”. As reported by The Comet, assistant chief fire officer, Mark Barber said:
“Crews have been working since before 3am this morning to contain a large fire at a metal recycling centre on Wallace Way, Hitchin.
"I'd like to thank our firefighters for their hard work, colleagues from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for their support, and the public for their patience."
As previously reported by the FPA, this is not the first time a fire has broken out at the industrial estates in Hitchin. Responding to this latest incident, MP Alistair Strathern said that the number of fires was “unacceptable”.
“I completely share residents' anger, concern and disbelief over yet another fire breaking out in the early hours at Hitchin's industrial estates,” he said according to ITV News.
"This situation is unacceptable. I am actively working with Hertfordshire Fire Service, the Environment Agency, and local authorities to address residents' serious concerns – including on safety and the impact on air quality.
"I'll be convening a public meeting with all relevant agencies to ensure robust measures are put in place to reduce the risk of these all-too-frequent fires.
"This simply cannot be a state of affairs we continue to accept."
Councillor Ian Albert added: "We simply cannot continue like this. These types of scrap metal businesses, no matter how well run, are just no longer appropriate locations for conducting this type of work.
"No matter how many precautions, the fires will still continue, especially when lithium-ion batteries are present often unexpectedly. This puts at risk the safety of residents. And especially the safety of firefighters called in again and again to put out the fires.
"I have pressed at recent multi-agency meetings for an urgent review and action by the Environment Agency and Herts County Council of the licensing permissions and the planning permissions and conditions that allow both organisations to trade. And I will be pressing the site landlords to see what action they can take."
(Photograph by Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)