A major incident was declared after a massive fire ripped through a recycling plant in Widnes, Cheshire, sending towering plumes of black smoke into the sky as 450 tonnes of cardboard went up in flames during the sweltering heatwave.
Twenty-eight fire engines attended the blaze at Everite Road on Monday evening, with additional support called in from Lancashire and Greater Manchester as crews battled through the night to bring the inferno under control. Drone footage circulating online showed huge fireballs tearing through the single-storey building, which was at risk of structural collapse by 5.30pm as firefighters urged residents and businesses in the surrounding area to keep their windows and doors shut.
A major incident was formally declared at 6pm due to the scale of the fire. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service crews worked in three sectors to tackle the blaze systematically, with relief crews rotating through to maintain the response into the night. Firefighters later confirmed they were making good progress in stopping the fire from spreading to adjacent premises. By 10.30pm the blaze was reported to be “well under control,” with numbers gradually reduced overnight as some crews remained at the scene using water jets to cool burning debris. Despite the scale of the incident, no injuries were reported.
Supt Sam Billington of Cheshire Police said a large number of officers attended to manage road closures and provide community reassurance. “While our colleagues from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tackle the fire, we would urge residents in the nearby area to follow their advice and stay indoors with their windows and doors closed at this time,” he said. “I would also ask people not to congregate at the scene as it could hamper our response to this incident.” Dritchfield Road remained closed on Tuesday morning as the aftermath of the fire continued to be managed.
