Fire engines from Widnes, Penketh, Runcorn, Warrington, Chester, Frodsham, Birchwood and Lymm plus a water bowser from Powey Lane and an aerial ladder platform from Lymm. A fire engine from Prestcott (Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service) also attended. Relief crews attending overnight were from Birchwood, Crewe, Audlem, Bollington, Alsager, Congleton and Widnes.
Details
Firefighters are currently dealing with a large fire at a commercial premises. The fire involves scrap metal in a yard and crews are using three main water jets to fight the fire.
UPDATE: 19:15
Due to hose reels running along the A557, from a water source, one lane of the carriageway northbound has been closed by police.
UPDATE: 19:50
Due to a number of vehicles in attendance at this incident people are being asked to avoid the Dennis Road area of Widnes. Nearby residents should keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution.
UPDATE 20:00
Four main water jets are in use, along with the aerial ladder platform to enable firefighters to get water into the fire from above.
UPDATE: 21:00
The fire involves approximately 200 tonnes of scrap and crews are working to protect a building on site, which is not involved in the fire.
Five main water jets and four ground monitors are in use fighting the fire.
The junction of Dennis Road is closed at Earle Road, and Tan House Lane is closed at the junction of Moss Bank Road and Fiddlers Ferry Road. Please avoid the area while the incident is ongoing.
Residents are still being asked to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution, while the fire is being extinguished.
UPDATE: 23:20
Water run off from the hoses has been managed throughout this incident and specialist equipment has been used to help with this. The incident is now being scaled down to four fire engines and relief crews are preparing to take over around midnight. Firefighters are expected to be working overnight and into tomorrow to put this fire out and fully extinguish any hot spots.
UPDATE: 7am on 22 June
Three fire engines are currently still at the fire and firefighters worked throughout the night, using ground monitors to get water onto the pile.
Outer cordons have now been lifted at the junction of Dennis Road and Tan House Lane. This will allow access to nearby businesses. People within those businesses are still being advised to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke in the area.
A plan to use heavy machinery and move some of the scrap is being formulated. This will allow crews to get to the deeper seated areas of fire and extinguish them. It is expected that firefighters will be there for most of the day.
UPDATE: 10am
Road closures were lifted to allow access to certain businesses, although road closures are still in place so please avoid the area if you can.
Crews have now been scaled back and two fire engines from Birchwood and Widnes remain at the incident.
UPDATE 11:30am
It is estimated that Cheshire Police will re-open the roads around the area at 12:30pm.
Firefighters are still using one main jet in the area.
UPDATE 14:00
Firefighters are dampening down the area and specialist machinery is being used to move the scrap.
Most road closures have now been removed, there is a small section of Dennis Road that still remains closed.
UPDATE 16:20
Crews remain at the scene and are continuing to dampen down the area. A hose reel jet is in use as well as hand held jets.
Relief crews are due to take over at the incident shortly.
UPDATE 11am on 23 June
Firefighters have now checked for any final hotspots in the area and the fire is out. All crews have now left the incident.
