Fifty firefighters responded to a significant fire at Taroni’s scrap yard located in Aston, Birmingham, involving some 150 tonnes of scrap metal. Multiple fire crews, totalling twelve, along with support vehicles, were dispatched to the scene on Cheston Road shortly before 9:30 pm on Saturday, February 17. The blaze prompted the deployment of eight fire engines, four brigade response vehicles, a hydraulic platform, a high-volume pumping unit, and other support vehicles.
Throughout the incident, flames were observed in various areas of the yard, prompting the involvement of police and other relevant agencies. Nearby residents were advised to close doors and windows, while others were cautioned to avoid the affected area if possible.
Efforts to combat the fire involved the use of eight main jets and a hydraulic platform. Despite the challenging circumstances, firefighting teams worked diligently to contain the blaze and prevent further spread. By midnight, significant progress had been made, with operations ongoing into the night.
The fire, which is not suspected to have been deliberately set, was brought under control by Sunday morning. Despite the scaling down of resources, one crew remained on-site to ensure that the situation remained contained. The incident, which has occurred before at the same location, is being monitored, and precautions are being taken to prevent any reoccurrence.
On Sunday morning, February 18, the West Midlands Fire Service issued an update, stating that they do not suspect the fire to have been caused by arson. According to a spokesperson for the service:
“Our crews have made excellent progress on this incident overnight and our resources on scene have been reduced down to a single crew. They continued to damp down and monitor the scene.
During the night, on site staff assisted fire crews with moving scrap metal to gain access to deep-seated areas of fire.
Several road closures that were in place have been lifted. At this time, the incident is not being treated as suspicious.
It’s expected a crew will remain at the scene for some time today to continue to monitor and damp down any hot spots.”
Sources www.birminghammail.co.uk www.birminghammail.co.uk www.wmfs.net
