COUNTY NEWS: Dramatic footage shows firefighters tackling huge blaze

Firefighters tackle a roaring blaze at a recycling centre in Crawley Picture: Eddie Howland

Teams from Crawley, Horley, East Grinstead, Burgess Hill, Horsham, Haywards Heath, Worthing and Partridge Green worked into the night to fight the fire at the Viridor Waste Management site, in Metcalfe Way.

An articulated refuse lorry ignited inside the 60 metre by 60 metre single storey building at 4.19pm yesterday.

Dramatic footage shot at the scene shows the burning vehicle being driven out of the building.

Forty-five firefighters wearing breathing apparatus fought the blaze using three hydrants, four jets, two hose reels and 60 litres of foam. An aerial ladder platform and three monitors were also used in the operation.

A Viridor spokesman said: “The site’s unit emergency plan was instigated quickly and efficiently with everyone being evacuated off site safely and in line with health and safety procedures.”

The fire was extinguished by 9.45pm and firefighters left the scene around 11pm. A follow up inspection was made earlier this morning.

0ne hundred per cent of the building was smoke damaged, 20 per cent of the building was damaged by heat and 75 per cent of the lorry trailer was damaged by fire.

The centre is closed today while clean up takes place. The alternative household waste recycling site is in Fairbridge Way, Burgess Hill, RH15 8AR.

The cause of the fire was accidental.