UPDATE AT 18:00 | 20 fire engines are in attendance from Cheshire, with support from crews from Lancashire, Merseyside, North Wales and Greater Manchester. The Service's high reach extending turret, foam tanker and two high volume pumps are also in attendance.
Details
UPDATE 17:30 | Eight fire engines are dealing with a large fire involving around 700 tons of waste cardboard in a single storey building measuring approximately 50m x 50m. The fire has spread rapidly and is causing a heavy plume of smoke. As such, nearby residents and businesses are advised to keep windows and doors closed. Owing to the risk of the building collapsing, firefighters are tackling the blaze from the exterior. All persons are accounted for and no casualties have been reported. Police are managing traffic in the area.
UPDATE AT 18:00 | Owing to the size of the fire and smoke plume, this has now been declared a major incident. Advice to keep windows and doors closed remains in place while firefighters extinguish the fire.
UPDATE AT 19:00 | Crews are continuing to tackle the fire and advice to keep windows and doors remains in place. Road closures are currently in place on Everite Road, Hale Road and Ditchfield Road. Motorists are advised to avoid the area while emergency services work at the scene.
UPDATE AT 20:55 | Firefighters are making good progress in tackling the fire and preventing it spreading to adjacent premises. The smoke plume appears to be reducing, as a result. Crews are working in three sectors to extinguish the fire systematically. Relief crews will soon arrive to continue this work into the night.
It is believed 450 tonnes of waste out of a total of 550 tonnes on site have been involved in the fire.
Cheshire Police are asking motorists to avoid the area while emergency services work at the scene.
Superintendent Sam Billington said: “A large number of officers are in attendance at the scene to manage road closures and provide reassurance to the community.
“While our colleagues from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service tackle the fire, we would urge residents in the nearby area to follow their advice and stay indoors with their windows and doors closed at this time.
“I would also ask people not to congregate at the scene as it could hamper our response to this incident.”
UPDATE 22:30 | The number of crews on scene will be reduced overnight and firefighters will continue to damp down the fire, which is now well under control. Local residents and businesses are advised to keep windows and doors closed and stay indoors overnight. Some roads will also remain closed. A further update will be provided in the morning.
UPDATE 07:00 23/6/25 | The major incident was stood down before midnight, but firefighters have remained at the scene overnight using water jets to cool burning debris. At around 04:00 attendance was scaled back to three fire engines and three special appliances from Cheshire plus one special appliance from Greater Manchester. It is likely that road closures around the immediate area will remain in place for some time, so please check your route before setting off for work or school this morning.
UPDATE 11:00 23/6/2026 - We have six crews still at the scene, who are beginning the final phase of firefighting. This involves working with on-site personnel to excavate the smouldering debris to allow us to extinguish remaining pockets of fire. This will create some additional smoke for a short time.
The UK Health Security Agency North West advises that any smoke can be an irritant and residents in areas affected are advised to stay indoors, keep doors and windows closed. Motorists who need to travel through the affected area should keep their windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep air vents closed.
Ventilating your home is important when smoke is not present. If you cannot see or smell smoke, open windows and doors to let in fresh air. However, if smoke returns to your area, return inside and close all windows and doors until it has visibly cleared.
Anyone experiencing symptoms such as coughing or breathlessness which they believe may be related to smoke exposure should contact their GP or call NHS 111, which is free from both landlines and mobiles and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In an emergency, call 999.
UPDATE 15:00 23/06/23 | Attendance is expected to reduce to three fire engines at 17:00 and one fire engine and the high reach extending turret at 21:00 to remain overnight. No further updates will be provided unless there is a significant development. An investigation into the cause of the fire will begin when it is safe to do so.
