June 24, 2011 5.26 pm This story is over 152 months old

Fire at Beevor Street recycling plant

Recycling blaze: A fire at a recycling plant in Lincoln has created thick smoke covering the city.

— Updated on June 25 @ 10am

Just before 5pm on Friday, June 24, a large fire started at European Metal Recycling on Beevor Street, Lincoln.

Emergency services quickly attended the scene, where some eyewitness reports detailed a gas cylinder explosion in a pile of scrap metal, where a petrol leak from a scrapped car caused the fire.

Eight Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue engines attended the scene to fight the blaze. Tritton Road was closed during the operation so that the engines could top up their water.

The thick smoke plume from the blaze was quickly seen all over the city, causing concern amongst some Lincoln residents.

The blaze was not a threat to the public, and the smoke was black due to the nature of the materials burning.

European Metal Recycling (EMR) recycles over 10 million tonnes a year of materials from consumers, industry and demolition works.

Fire and Rescue were unable to comment at the time of writing on the cause of the incident, but will be launching a full investigation.

Fire fighters had the blaze under control at about 6pm, while Tritton Road remained closed overnight.

Related Reports: BBC Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Echo