Firefighters spent a full day tackling a significant fire at a recycling centre in Skewen, which broke out as the service was also fighting a major blaze at the Tata steelworks in Port Talbot.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was called to the recycling centre at Neath Abbey Wharf, near Neath, at 5.30am on Thursday, June 4.
Crews found a significant fire involving a large quantity of waste material measuring roughly 75 metres by 40 metres, and estimated to contain around 150 tonnes of recyclable waste.
At the height of the incident, multiple appliances were in attendance from across the service, with support from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Firefighters used 12 breathing apparatus sets, along with two ground monitors and two main jets, to bring the fire under control.
The blaze required a sustained operational response throughout the day, with a “stop” message — confirming the fire was under control — received at 5.27pm.
Crews from Neath, Port Talbot, Swansea Central, Morriston, Pontardawe and Haverfordwest fire stations were among those mobilised to the scene during the incident.
The recycling centre fire came on a demanding day for the fire service, which was simultaneously dealing with a separate major incident some miles away.
Through Wednesday night and into Thursday, crews were also tackling a major fire at the Tata Steel works in Port Talbot, which drew more than 100 firefighters from across Wales and the West of England.
The fire service said the two incidents were entirely separate, and that no appliances or officers were redeployed from the Tata response to deal with the Skewen fire.
It said that while the number and complexity of incidents overnight had increased demand on its control room, it had maintained effective operational cover across its area throughout.
“This period has demonstrated the strength of our operational capability, partnership working and the dedication of our staff,” a spokesperson said.
It is the second major fire involving large quantities of waste in the wider area in little more than a month. At the end of April, a fire involving around 200 tonnes of commercial waste sent black smoke billowing over Port Talbot from an industrial site on Dock Road.
Large fires involving baled or loose recyclable waste can be particularly stubborn, as material packed tightly together can continue to smoulder deep within a pile long after the visible flames have been knocked down.
Residents in the area were advised to keep windows and doors closed while the fire was burning.
The cause of the Neath Abbey Wharf fire has not been confirmed.
