A major incident was declared in Widnes on Monday evening after a fire at a recycling plant triggered multiple explosions and sent thick black smoke across the region. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service deployed 20 fire engines to the blaze on Everite Road, with additional support from Lancashire and Greater Manchester fire services.
Fire Spreads Rapidly at Waste Facility
Crews arrived just before 4:30pm to find 700 tons of waste cardboard ablaze in a single-storey building. The fire spread quickly, producing heavy smoke plumes visible from the Silver Jubilee Bridge, Knowsley Expressway, Speke, West Derby, Mossley Hill, Huyton, Page Moss, Liverpool city centre, Bickerstaffe, Lytham in Lancashire, and north Wales.
By 5:30pm, the building was at risk of collapse, prompting authorities to urge nearby residents and businesses to keep windows and doors closed. All persons were accounted for and no injuries were reported.
Eyewitnesses Report Explosions and Chemical Smell
A local resident on Ditchfield Road told the ECHO he heard “loads of bangs” before seeing smoke from his back window. A taxi driver near Speke Road said: “There’s a huge fire raging. The entire sky over Liverpool is turning black and multiple explosions are currently taking place. … The whole area here smelled of chemicals and it was hard to breathe.”
An ECHO photographer at the scene reported a loud bang just after 6pm, and later saw ash raining down on Coronation Drive.
Major Incident Declared and Road Closures in Place
The incident was declared a major incident at 6pm as firefighters continued to battle the blaze. Cheshire Police confirmed road closures on Everite Road, Hale Road, and Ditchfield Road, advising motorists to avoid the area. A police spokesperson said: “Officers are at the scene assisting Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service with traffic management. There are no reports of any injuries at this time.”
