News / Dump fire re-ignites overnight
FIRE FIGHTERS from Lerwick, Scalloway and Sandwick have been called back to the Rova Head landfill site early on Thursday after the smouldering fire there re-ignited overnight.
The blaze at the rubbish dump was described by fire control as being “not under control yet”.
Four appliances were called out at just before 6am. Crews are using eight sets of breathing apparatus and four hose reel jets.
The fire brigade spent most of Wednesday dampening down an area, which had started smouldering after overheating.
SIC infrastructure director Maggie Sandison said on Wednesday that there appeared to be a “deep-seated fire below the surface of the landfill”.
On Thursday she added: “Yesterday evening the fire brigade left site satisfied that the source of the fire had been identified and extinguished.
“My understanding is that early this morning the fire brigade was called because smoke was seen again coming from the site.
“The fire brigade are on site again and the refuse in the landfill is again on fire and it has extended to catch some of the baled tyres that are on site used for site engineering and drainage.
“Clearly the fire brigade are in charge of the fire at this stage and we are still in discussions with SEPA to establish impacts on the landfill operation and developing a recovery plan for the remedial works once the fire is fully extinguished.”
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