Massive fire closes Caldon Canal

A MASSIVE fire that broke out at a plastic recycling works next to the Caldon Canal at Milton closed the waterway yesterday, Sunday.

Smoke and debris covered the area with people told by the fire people to keep all doors and windows securely fastened and stay inside their homes, Keith Gudgin tells us.

Out of control

Even a football match some distance away had to be cancelled as the fire service made loud speaker announcements telling people to keep away as the fire that was completely out of control was sending toxic smoke into the air from the burning plastic.

Fire fighters attempted to control the blaze after it broke out yesterday morning, but such was the heat generated that they were unable to get close as the many hundreds of tons of plastic burnt.

Toxic smoke and debris

The plastic was burning all yesterday, and even when eventually controlled there was a pall of toxic smoke and debris over the whole area including the canal. There was no one available yet at Canal & River Trust to tell if the waterway was useable.