Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) was called out to a blaze at Hitchin Industrial Estate on 20 September
After receiving reports around 22:30 of a vehicle alight at Global Ardour Recycling, Wallace Way on Hitchin Industrial Estate, HFRS responded by sending five fire engines and an aerial appliance being to the scene.
On arrival, firefighters discovered a lorry, eight cars, and a storage unit containing tyres all alight, with firefighting work to bring the blaze under control continuing overnight and into the early morning.
In a statement, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Mark Barber, confirmed there were no injuries and that an investigation into the cause of the fire had been launched.
“Our firefighters worked hard overnight to contain and extinguish a fire in a scrapyard in Wallace Way in Hitchin.
"This was a large fire involving a number of vehicles and stored tyres. Firefighters did an excellent job bringing it under control in challenging circumstances.
"Fortunately nobody was injured and this morning we are working with the site owners to establish the cause of the fire."
News of this latest fire has been met with concerns from nearby residents, as well as local MP Alistair Strathern, as this is the fourth incident at the industrial estate in the last twelve months.
In December 2023, a large fire occurred at a recycling centre at Bridge Works on the same estate, with subsequent fires at the Nationwide Metal Centre plant in February 2024 and again in July.
Posting on Facebook, Mr Strathern said: “I share residents' concern at another fire breaking out on Hitchin’s industrial estates yesterday evening.
“I’m grateful to our local fire fighters for their work to get the blaze under control, and know efforts to investigate the cause of the fire are now underway.
“I’ll be continuing to liaise with Herts Fire Service as this progresses, but the fire is a stark reminder of the need for all local stakeholders to work together and take robust action where needed to reduce the risk of fires which seem to be becoming all too common an occurrence.
“We shouldn’t tolerate this, and I certainly won’t as our MP.”
Investigations into the circumstances of the fire are continuing.