Latest news with #BedfordshireFire
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Green bin collections halted after waste site fire at Elstow
Green waste bin collections have been suspended for two weeks after a large fire at a landfill blaze broke out at the Elstow Waste Transfer Site near Bedford at about 21:00 BST on the facility is now out of operation, Bedford Borough Council said "priority waste" would have to be transported to an alternative site, meaning green waste kerbside collections had to be halted Elstow site is still being monitored by the fire service but the A6, between Wixams and the A421 south of Bedford, was reopened on Sunday night. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was working with the Environment Agency, the UK Health and Security Agency, police and the council on a "controlled burn" strategy at the council has apologised to residents affected by the suspension of green waste and said they should use the household waste recycling centre at Barkers Lane to dispose of any excess green waste during this time. Nicola Gribble, the council's independent portfolio holder for environment, said: "We regret the disruption caused by the fire at the Elstow Transfer Station and are working tirelessly to minimise the impact on our residents. "Suspending green waste collections was a difficult but necessary decision to prioritise essential waste services and public safety." Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
'Controlled burn' strategy at Elstow waste site fire
A fire service said crews will remain at a landfill site throughout the weekend following a Fire and Rescue Service was called to the Elstow Waste Transfer Site at about 21:00 BST on Friday. People were advised to close windows and doors and avoid the area. The A6 between Wixams and the A421 remained closed. Diversions were in have worked with the Environment Agency, the UK Health and Security Agency, police and the council on a "controlled burn" strategy. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bedford cafe 'adapts' to reopen after arson destroyed kitchen
Staff at a riverside cafe which was damaged after an arson attack had to "adapt and improvise" to get the business up and running again. Thomas Healey, from The Longholme, on Bedford's Embankment, said its food production areas were left full of "toxic smoke" after the fire in the early hours of Wednesday 18 food and consumables had to be thrown away, but by Saturday, it was serving again with generator power, a coffee trailer and a pop-up Fire and Rescue confirmed its crews were called to the scene and the "cause of the fire was deliberate". The fire started in a bin and spread to the kitchen, which was "100% damaged", the fire service caused "a serious impact on our production areas, mainly due to toxic smoke damage that has compromised all of our stainless steel appliances and surfaces", Mr Healey said. The area has been "completely stripped back to the bones to allow for a commercial deep clean, ahead of repairs and re-fitting". "The damage would shock anyone because from the front, it all looks fine," he added. It reopened in time for the town's Kite and Motoring Festival that took place on 21 and 22 June, but Mr Healey said a reduced menu impacted sales. Mr Healey said: "We have managed to improvise a decent menu, and a pop-up kitchen using event equipment stored off location, the team have adapted with passion and a desire to put everything right again. "We will be back on track ASAP."Insurance companies for Bedford Borough Council, which owns the building, and the cafe are now dealing with the claim. He said his step-father, Adrian Allen, "dropped tools on another personal project to jump in and get the cafe back on course, without this, we would be facing a much longer road to recovery". The support from customers had been "simply fantastic" with hundreds of supportive comments on its social media pages, he fire occurred after the business recently spent £6,000 on "game-changing" flood defences due to its position near a Police has been approached for comment. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Sky News
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Sky News
Huge fire declared a 'major incident' with road closures nearby
Why you can trust Sky News A major incident has been declared as firefighters battle a large blaze at a recycling warehouse in Northamptonshire. Emergency crews were called to the scene at Sanders Lodge Industrial Estate in Rushden at about 6.30am on Friday. A number of road closures have been put in place, and local residents are being advised to avoid the area and keep their windows and doors closed. Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) said it is receiving cross-border support from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) and anticipates crews will remain at the scene "for the rest of the weekend". NFRS said the fire involves a "large quantity of plastic". Ten fire engines have been mobilised, as well as three turntable ladders, two water bowsers and a high-volume pump. A NFRS spokesperson said: "Due to the large smoke plume coming from the blaze, we are asking people nearby to avoid the area and keep their windows and doors closed." No patients have been reported at the scene. Northamptonshire Police is also providing support and has implemented a number of road closures, including: • Full closure of all slip roads at J16 of the A45, both eastbound and westbound (the A45 itself is open past the scene). • Ditchford Road, between the junction with Mill Road and the A45. • Northampton Road at the junction with Wellingborough Road. • Wellingborough Road at the junction with Washbrook Road.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Huge blaze breaks out at recycling plant
A major incident was declared on Friday when firefighters were called to tackled a large blaze at a recycling warehouse. More than a dozen fire crews tackled the fire for several hours at Sanders Lodge industrial estate, in Rushden, Northamptonshire. Thick plumes of black smoke were visibile from miles away. Emergency services responded to the scene at about 6.30am on Friday, evacuating the area and blocking roads surrounding the plant. Residents reported debris falling into their gardens and onto homes. Crews from nearby Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were on hand to help with the scene and are expected to stay in place over the weekend. Mick Berry, the area manager for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: 'This is a large fire that is having a significant impact on the Sanders Lodge industrial estate in Rushden. 'A multi-agency decision has been taken to declare a major incident, but fire crews are working extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading and reduce the smoke plume. 'We would urge people to stay away from the site while emergency services deal with this incident and ask nearby residents to close windows and doors due to the large amount of smoke issuing from the site. 'We anticipate that we will be on scene over the rest of the weekend, and we appreciate the impact this is having on local businesses on the estate and would like to thank them for their patience.' The gas supply has been cut to the area while emergency services work with Cadent, the local provider, to keep over 500 homes working normally. A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: 'We're supporting our Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service colleagues as they deal with the large fire which broke out earlier on Friday May 23 at Sanders Lodge industrial estate in Rushden. 'A number of road closures are currently in place to support public safety and emergency services activity.'
