Huge Blaze Near Royal Wootton Bassett 

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is currently dealing with a large fire at a scrapyard near Broad Town.

Firefighters were called to Swindon Metal Solutions at Thornhill at 3.03pm this afternoon (5 July) and found a large quantity of scrap cars well alight.

The fire has caused a significant plume of black smoke which is visible from as far away as Royal Wootton Bassett and Lydiard Millicent area.

 

People in the affected area are advised to keep their doors and windows shut for the time being. Wiltshire Police will be keeping local people informed about road closures.

 

Video courtesy of Gemma Tevendale, 27 from Moredon, Swindon.

UPDATE - 06 July, 17:02

Wiltshire Fire Service have just announced that about 100 scrap cars and thousands of tyres were destroyed in the blaze.

At the fire's height about 40 firefighters tackled the blaze and smoke was said to have been seen for 25 miles.

During their fight with the fire one fireman was taken to hospital to be treated for intense heat exposure, but he was not seriously injured.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service have said they could be at the scene of the fire well into tomorrow.

A couple of significant hotspots remain within the main yard and these are still being tackled.

The main fire remains within the stack of approximately 1,000 tyres – heavy plant is now on site to break the stack down, allowing firefighters to have better access.

Compressed air foam will also be used in a bid to extinguish the blaze.

Thursday 05 July 2012

Photos by Stephen Islip