Huge fire breaks out at Warwickshire scrapyard

Firefighters have been tackling a blaze at a metal recycling plant in Kingsbury, North Warwickshire.

The incident broke out on Sunday morning (26 December) and has been described as a “significant” fire by Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service.

There have been zero casualties.

The scrapyard is located on Trinity Road, near Tamworth, which is about 20 miles north of the University of Warwick.

After receiving many calls reporting the incident, six fire engines and 30 firefighters were sent to the scene on early Sunday morning. 

They confirmed that the cause of the fire was a large area of scrap metal. This was well alight with bright orange flames upon their arrival.

One witness walking in nearby Kingsbury Water Park at the time reported hearing loud ‘shotgun-like’ noises.

There were quite a few explosions that I heard and I was about a mile away. I walked to the other side of the park and I could still see the flames

–Witness

“There were quite a few explosions that I heard and I was about a mile away. I walked to the other side of the park and I could still see the flames”, they added. 

Images shared on social media also showed thick black plumes of smoke covering the sky for miles around.

Support was received from the West Midlands, Staffordshire, Hereford and Worcester Fire Services as well as the on-site staff. Three crews remained in attendance for several hours.

Machinery including main jets, a high volume pump and ground monitors supplied by the water carriers had been utilised to fully extinguish the fire.

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has praised the “fantastic effort by all involved” in managing the incident.

Nearby residents to the European Metal Recycling site have been advised to keep their doors and windows shut and to avoid the area for now.