On-Going Incident At Recycling Plant In Aberafan, Port Talbot

Emergency Services and partner agencies remain at the site of a fire incident at a tyre recycling plant in Aberafan, Port Talbot. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The first call was received by Fire Control at 22.55hrs on the 12th July 2016 and at its height there were 21 appliances and 100 personnel on site dealing with the incident. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The incident is particularly complex in that it involves deep seated fires within a large quantity of waste tyre product but emergency services teams, partner agencies and private contractors are making excellent progress to deal with the incident but this may take some time. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The smoke plume continues to be monitored closely by Natural Resources Wales and Public Health Wales using the National Air Quality Network monitoring systems and on site staff. Cordons are in place around the incident and the public are advised to stay clear of the area. This situation may be subject to change due to changes in wind direction within the local area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

People may suffer some disruption to travel arrangements in and around the immediate vicinity of the incident thus alternative routes should be followed where possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Smoke from fires such as these may contain substances that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Respiratory symptoms can include coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. Public Health Wales advises people to minimise their exposure to smoke by keeping doors and windows closed and turning any ventilation systems off. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Those with asthma and other respiratory conditions as well as heart conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication, such as their inhalers, as usual. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​