Homes evacuated as 50 firefighters tackle ravaging industrial blaze in Nottinghamshire
Thick black smoke billows across the town in Nottinghamshire with people living near the site evacuated from their homes.
Firefighters tackle blaze on Forest Road in Mansfield
Fifty firefighters are battling a massive blaze at an industrial unit in Nottinghamshire. Thick black smoke is pouring into the air and people living near the site have been evacauted from their homes.
The fire started at around 3.45pm at a premises in Forest Road, Mansfield, which is believed to be a rag recycling centre.
In a message posted on Twitter earlier this evening Damian West, the incident commander at the fire, said that crews are still in the fire fighting phase of the operation and expect to be so for several hours into the night.
He said the electricity in the area would be turned back on when it is safe to do so, and thanked all the people who had been displaced from their homes for their co-operation.
Videos filmed by people living in the area show not only the smoke rising into the air but also how quite a lot of the site has been ravaged by flames, and it is also possible to hear the crackling of the burning materials.
It has led to widespread road closures in the area - namely those along Nottingham Road, Forest Road and Sandhurst Avenue.
Nearby properties along Forest Road and Sandhurst Avenue have been evacuated.
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21:15 | Update | Update from the Officer In Charge Damien West. pic.twitter.com/PMaliCkOFT
— Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (@nottsfire) March 18, 2023
If the pictures weren’t bad enough, the sound of the #savannarags fire is frightening. #mansfield pic.twitter.com/5ICs1eRsde
— Natalie Bowen (@nataliejbowen) March 18, 2023
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service says that crews from Mansfield, Ashfield, Blidworth, Edwinstowe, Hucknall, Arnold, Warsop, Shirebrook, Maltby, Kibworth, Stapleford, Chesterfield, Worksop and Highfields are in attendance.
Chief Inspector Amy Styles-Jones, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Thankfully, there are no reports of any injuries but neighbouring streets have been evacuated as a precaution."
“The Oak Tree Leisure Centre, in Jubilee Way South, will open from 7pm as a place of safety for members of the public affected by the fire."
"This incident is likely to be ongoing for some time so please avoid the area if possible."
Ambulance crews were called but no-one needed to be taken to hospital.