Fire At Waste Storage Facility Near Llandow – Update

Drivers are advised to take care on local roads as multiagency response to fire near Llandow in the Vale of Glamorgan continues. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is advising drivers travelling on the B4270 between Llantwit Major and Cowbridge and other local roads to take extra care on Sunday 05 March as smoke from the fire is being blown across the carriageway by strong winds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At the site of the fire the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) is continuing to work with partner agencies including Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and the Vale of Glamorgan Council as well as the site owners to limit the impact of the fire and to ensure it is contained. Agencies will remain at the site throughout the weekend. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A spokesperson for SWFRS said, “Our crews are monitoring the fire and will do so over the coming days to ensure that the incident is contained. We are advising local businesses and residents to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution. Liaison between partner agencies and the site owners will also be ongoing.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The facility is permitted to store various forms of non-hazardous household, commercial and industrial waste. There is not believed to be any asbestos at the site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Public Health Wales is working with partners to assess the situation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Andrew Kibble of the Public Health Wales Environmental Public Health Team advised: “Fires involving these types of waste materials are, unfortunately, relatively common and as a result there is considerable information on the risk they present to public health. Any smoke produced may contain a mixture of irritant gases, combustion products and particulate matter. In addition the smoke can be acrid with odours that are unpleasant and annoying. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The substances in the smoke can be irritating to the eyes, nose and throat causing coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. People with asthma and other respiratory conditions as well as heart complaints may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication (such as their inhalers) as usual. As a result we recommend people do all that they can to stay out of the smoke and if at home, close doors and windows. It would also be beneficial to open doors and windows when smoke is not in the vicinity to allow fresh air in. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Evidence from fires involving similar waste materials show that staying indoors and avoiding the plume should ensure that the risk to the health of local people is low. If people experience any symptoms these will disappear very quickly once the smoke has passed and should not result in any long-term health problems. There is also no evidence that this fire involves asbestos either in the waste materials or building itself.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vale of Glamorgan Council’s emergency planning team is working to limit disruption. A minor road leading to the site remains closed but there is no other impact on the local highway network. Local schools have been advised to open as usual. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There is no impact on the local water supply. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​