Fire hits metal recycling centre in Portsmouth
EMERGENCY Firefighters on scene at European Metal Recycling in Dundas Spur, Portsmouth.
AROUND 800 tonnes of scrap metal was set on fire at a metal recycling centre in Portsmouth.
Twenty five firefighters - two crews from Cosham, two from Southsea, one retained crew from Portchester and the special rescue unit from Cosham Fire Station - tackled the blaze at European Metal Recycling in Dundas Spur, Hilsea for 50 minutes.
Emergency services were called to the scene at 11.08am.
The fire was inside a fenced area on the Hilsea site.
Watch manager Jamie Wren of Cosham fire station said: ‘We were called to 800 tonnes of metal which was on fire.
‘Staff used machines to move the metal into smaller heaps. There were about 15 to 20 heaps.
‘Because of the density we would have struggled to contain the fire, so we made about 15 to 20 heaps to make it more manageable.
‘The metal is being put through a shredder as a safety precaution so that it does not reignite.’
Hampshire Constabulary were called to ensure the scene was guarded and no one was injured.
The cause of the fire is being investigated.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
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Graham Wheatley
Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 02:05 AMYocal (4), only (generally) the ones with low atomic numbers and apart from Aluminium, I don't think you'll find much of those at a Scrappy. (Aluminium goes very well in an oxygen flame - it makes a very good cutting-lance and goes through Steel like it was butter!). Most of the stuff in fireworks is only present it trace quantities to give the colour. I'm sure you remember your 'O'-level chemistry, ;o)
Sir JJ
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 05:17 PMComment removed by moderator
pompeygazza
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 03:51 PMtry lighting some wire wool, goes up marvellously.
Yocal
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 02:40 PMMetals burn very well Flying Bull. They are used in fireworks and as fuel in other rockets. Aluminium was used as the fuel in the Space Shuttle solid fuel rocket boosters. You just need the right conditions.
andi4asg
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:29 PMAs long as nobody is hurt, it will still be scrap metal at the end of the day
snapdog
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:28 PMThey re-cycle everything... cars have interiors, fridges and cable have plastic.... so that is obviously what is on fire.
Flying bull
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 12:20 PMWell Well how do you set fire to scrap metal? I have never been to. Hope no one has been hurt.
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