Thursday 16 January 2014

Firefighters battling 1,000 tonne tyre fire visible from SPACE - Dozens of firefighters are currently battling the fire in Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Selby

Dozens of firefighters are battling a giant fire involving 1,000 tonnes of tyres which can be seen from SPACE.
Thick black smoke was billowing across north Yorkshire this afternoon as a huge blaze ripped through a recycling plant at Sherburn-in-Elmet, near Selby.
About 14 fire engines have been sent to the scene as well as a specialist pump.
Schools have been contacted advising that pupils are kept inside and locals have been told to keep windows closed.
Crews from Humberside and West Yorkshire also attended the fire, which broke out around 8.30am.
It later emerged that the fire is visible from space after a NASA satellite has captured an image of a grey plume of smoke above the site.
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire Service  said: "Information from the scene now suggests that approximately 1000 tonnes of tyres are involved in the fire.


 "Fire crews are using a water curtain which is used as a cooling method to try to restrict the spread of the fire."
The fire service tweeted this afternoon: "We've contacted schools in the #Sherburn area advising pupils and staff to remain indoors and keep windows closed #tyrefire.
"We are likely to be at the scene of the fire in Sherburn in Elmet for quite some time."