A massive fire involving around 200 tonnes of commercial waste at an industrial site on Dock Road sent thick black smoke billowing across Port Talbot on Wednesday afternoon, with eight fire stations scrambling crews to the scene.
Crews from eight fire stations were called to the Port Talbot industrial site at 3.36pm on Wednesday after a blaze took hold involving around 200 tonnes of commercial waste. The fire was so significant that South Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called in to support their Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service colleagues, with the operation running deep into the night.
Thick black smoke billowed high above the town’s rooftops and could be seen from miles around, with crowds gathering near the scene to watch the dramatic response unfold. Drone footage shared on social media captured the full scale of the incident, with multiple fire engines and aerial ladder platforms deployed across the industrial site on the bank of the River Afan.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service issued its first statement at 4.34pm, confirming crews were responding and urging residents to avoid the area. A more detailed update followed at 5.16pm confirming the scale of the blaze.
A spokesperson said: “Our crews from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston, Ammanford, Tumble, Carmarthen, Pontarddulais and Glynneath Fire Stations have responded to an incident at Dock Road in Port Talbot. This incident is currently ongoing. With support by crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, crews are dealing with a fire involving approximately 200 tonnes of commercial waste.”
The spokesperson added that the area should be avoided to allow emergency services access, and that residents should keep windows and doors closed if there was thick smoke nearby. People were also asked not to call 999 unless lives or property were in immediate danger, so that control room operators could manage the high volume of emergency calls.
South Wales Police also moved quickly to close a number of roads in the area. Their statement, issued at 4.17pm, confirmed closures at the roundabout on Afan Way and Harbour Way, the roundabout on Harbour Way towards Tata Steel, and Water Street between Blanco’s Hotel and McDonald’s.
The A4241 — Dock Road itself — remained closed in both directions late into the evening, from the Industrial Park turn-off all the way to North Bank Road, as crews continued to battle the blaze.
Images from the scene showed fire engines and ladder platforms surrounded by dense smoke as firefighters trained jets onto the burning waste. Aerial photos showed a large industrial yard with materials stacked across the site, with the smoke plume stretching well beyond the immediate area and across the town towards the hills.
This morning, Cllr Sean Pursey, who represents the Sandfields East ward, said emergency services were still in attendance and residents should continue to take precautions.
He posted on Facebook: “Morning all, we’re currently awaiting an update from agency partners on the fire situation. The river footpath remains closed and there are some road closures in the area near ATS while the fire service is in attendance.”
Cllr Pursey added that he would advise people to continue keeping windows and doors closed and to take precautions outdoors until further guidance on air quality was issued.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has been approached for comment on whether the fire has been extinguished and whether any investigation into the cause is underway.
