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Smoke from 450-tonne cardboard fire seen for miles

Angela FergusonNorth West
News imageCheshire Fire and Rescue Service The front of a fire engine can be seen on the left of the image, with a large pile of cardboard on fire and large plumes of smoke billowing into the sky. A single-storey building can also be seen ablaze.Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
Work to tackle the blaze is expected to continue into the night, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said

Firefighters are tackling a large blaze involving about 450 tonnes of cardboard.

Smoke from the fire in Everite Road in Widnes, Cheshire, could be seen for miles and it has been declared a major incident by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service due to the size of the fire and smoke plume.

A spokesperson said no-one had been injured in the fire, which broke out in a single-storey building.

"All persons are accounted for and no casualties have been reported," they said.

"The fire has spread rapidly and is causing a heavy plume of smoke," they said.

"Owing to the risk of the building collapsing, firefighters are tackling the blaze from the exterior."

Twenty fire engines are in attendance from Cheshire, with support from crews from Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

News imageCheshire Fire and Rescue Service A badly fire-damaged building can be seen, with flames still burning and plumes of smoke in this aerial photo.Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service
An aerial shot taken by the fire service shows the scale of the blaze
News imageAltano Drone Photography A large plume of smoke can be seen billowing up into the sky, with the Runcorn bridge visible in the distance.Altano Drone Photography
This photo taken by a drone shows the large plume of smoke billowing from the recycling centre, with the Mersey Gateway and Runcorn Bridge in the distance

In an update at 20:55 BST, a fire service spokesperson said they were "making good progress in tackling the fire and preventing it spreading to adjacent premises.

"They are working in three sectors to extinguish the fire systematically.

"Relief crews will soon arrive to continue this work into the night."

'Stay indoors'

Cheshire Police Supt Sam Billington said "a large number of officers" were at the scene.

"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," he said.

"I would also ask people not to congregate at the scene as it could hamper our response to this incident."

News imageA large plume of smoke can be seen from a pavement at the side of a road in Liverpool.
Large plumes of smoke can be seen from as far afield as Liverpool

The following road closures are in place:

  • Hale Road at the junction of Marshgate
  • Marshgate at the junction of Everite Road
  • Ditchfield Road at the junction of Coronation Drive
  • Ditchfield Road at the junction of Wyncroft Road
  • Ditchfield Road at the junction of Philip Road
  • Ditchfield Road at the junction of Everite Road
  • Liverpool Road at the junction of Ditchfield Road
  • Liverpool Road at the junction of Hough Green
  • Netherley Road at the junction of Cross Hillocks Lane

Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

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