Waterston industrial unit fire incident finally closed after 10 days

Following the large fire in a commercial premises in Waterston industrial estate, Milford Haven on Sunday 14 August, Pembrokeshire County Council are reporting that the incident is now closed and the Fire Service are no longer at the site.

The incident involved three large commercial sheds, used for storing household waste.

At its peak, 14 fire appliances, a High-Volume Pump and Incident Command Unit were on the scene, with around 100 Firefighters working tirelessly throughout the afternoon, evening and into the night to bring the incident under control.

At the time the fire broke out, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were already dealing with a series of other fires across Pembrokeshire.

Thankfully the Waterston fire was extinguished by Wednesday (17 August).

The council report that as well as Fire Service personnel, the incident has required a significant multi agency response, with Dyfed Powys Police, Natural Resources Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board, Public Health Wales, Pembrokeshire County Council, Dragon LNG, Valero Pembrokeshire Oil Terminal and other key partners from Dyfed Powys Local Resilience Forum collaborating to deal with the challenges this incident brought about.

Pembrokeshire County Council Deputy Leader Cllr Paul Miller said: “Once again I would like to thank Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters in ensuring this large fire was brought under control.

“I would also like to express our gratitude to the communities of St Davids, Newgale and Waterston for their patience – and support for first responders. In addition, I want to thank the local farmers who assisted the fire service to ensure that water was made available as the fire intensified.

“This community response is typical of the people of this county, which I am very proud to call home.”

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Craig Flannery, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “With an incredibly busy weekend for the Service, where large scale wildfires in Newgale and St Davids put additional pressure on our resources, it has required dedication, commitment and outstanding resource planning to bring this incident under control.

“It goes without saying that on behalf of the Authority and the Service, I must acknowledge the effort our Firefighters have made in unprecedented and challenging circumstances.”

Martyn Evans, Head of South West Wales Operations for Natural Resources Wales said: “Our officers have been on site at the Waterston industrial estate in Milford Haven, to support Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and work with our partners to help reduce the risk to the environment and local community.

“Fires can have a serious impact and it’s imperative we work with our multi- agency partners to help safeguard residents and the environment.

“We will continue to monitor the impact on air quality and local watercourses over the coming days and ensure the necessary measures are in place to minimise any impact.”

(Lead image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service)