Fire crews who have been tackling a blaze at a Darlington recycling centre since the early hours of this morning are expected to be in attendance all through the night.
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) are still working to extinguish a fire at the Waste Transfer Station on Whessoe Road which broke out after 5am this morning (May 22).
The Waste Transfer Station, which belongs to Ashcourt, is next door to the Darlington Borough Council-run Housewaste Waste Recycling Centre and the cause of the fire is unknown.
Pictures of the inferno this morning saw plumes of smoke rising from the site as multiple firefighters were seen working to bring the fire under control.
The fire service has now this evening confirmed they will be in attendance all through the night as they continue to urge locals to keep their doors and windows closed and stay away from the area.
Phil Innis, CDDFRS Group Manager, is the lead firefighter at the scene, he said: “This is a popular local recycling centre but fortunately no injuries have been reported.
“I want to thank our hard-working crews at the scene who are working tirelessly to extinguish the blaze and thank our partners from police to local authorities and beyond for their assistance.”
He added: “I also want to thank the local community for your patience and your support during this incident.
“We ask that local businesses and properties in the area continue to keep their doors and windows closed due to the level of smoke and urge people to stay away from the area.”
Harrowgate Hill Primary School in Darlington closed earlier this morning, saying it had been forced to shut as “the air quality and smell in the building is so bad that it is beginning to affect both children and staff and for a number affecting their breathing”.
The school is just 700m away, as the crow flies, from the Drinkfield tip where thick and pungent smoke was rising.
One resident told the Echo: “I woke up at 6.15am and it already started smoking.
"The wind is browning the other direction towards Longfield School and the houses on Whessoe road so I could not smell it."
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