Scrap metal recycler Sims Metal has suffered a second large fire in less than a year at its waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling site in Dunkirk, Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service says it was called to a “significant” scrap metal fire at the Harrimans Lane site at 7.22pm on Saturday (27 November).

Videos from the scene show several buildings and piles of waste alight, with pillars of smoke coming from the site.

At the peak of the fire, more than 100 firefighters attended the scene, tackling the blaze with 12 fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms, a high-volume pump, a welfare unit, and a command support unit.

By Sunday morning, crews began to “scale down” the response, the fire service says. At 7am, six fire engines, one aerial ladder platform, and the high-volume pump remained, along with the welfare unit and command support unit. Crews are expected to remain on the site for “some time”.

There were no injuries, the fire service says, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Large fire at metal recycling plant.Dunkirk area. 12 pumps from @nottsfire @DerbyshireFRS & @LeicsFireRescue 1 ALP HVP@EMASNHSTrust HART@Police#JESIP pic.twitter.com/V8CfYcV9pU

— Matt Reavill (@Reavill_Matt) November 28, 2021

The facility predominately shreds WEEE but also accepts ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal, as well as vehicles from individuals and businesses.

In May, around 100 firefighters spent two days at a large fire at the facility involving a pile of electrical appliances (see letsrecycle.com story).

In a statement, a spokesperson for Sims Metal said: “We can confirm that the fire at our metal recycling plant in Nottingham has now been extinguished.

“We would like to thank the Fire and Rescue Services for their quick response and support. On-site teams supported the Fire and Rescue Service in order to help manage the situation, with no injuries sustained.

“As a company that is committed to the highest levels of safety and environmental performance, we regret that this situation arose and the inconvenience that the fire caused to both our residential and business neighbours.”

The fire service’s group manager Matt Reavill said: “We would like to thank local businesses and members of the public for their patience and understanding as we tackled the fire.

“Thank you to firefighters from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services, our control room staff, and our partners for their hard work in resolving the incident in challenging conditions.”

Our address is: letsrecycle.com, Roar B2B, First Floor, 115 Southwark Bridge Road London SE1 0AX

© Environment Media Group Ltd 2022. Company registration number 03959158. Registered office: 55 Station Road, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1QL

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