Air pollution checks under way after massive waste fire at Lancaster industrial estate

Air pollution checks are being carried out "to provide clarity on the safety of the area" after a massive fire at a Lancaster industrial estate.

The air quality checks are taking place as residents and businesses near the Lune Industrial Estate continue to smell foul fumes near their properties 10 days after the fire at the former A1 Supa Skips site.

Health advice has been issued for people who may be experiencing effects from the ongoing smoke plume caused by the fire.

Firefighters remain on-site tackling the deep-seated blaze in a building containing 13,000 tonnes of commercial waste, which broke out on December 3.

Read more: Health advice issued as crews continue to tackle Lancaster industrial estate fire one week on - Beyond Radio

Lancaster primary school keeps pupils indoors as impact of industrial estate fire continues - Beyond Radio

Cat Smith, the Lancaster MP, provided an update on Tuesday on the incident at the former skip hire building and power station on Port Royal Avenue.

"Given that the materials stored in the warehouse are piled high, and are in essence items thrown in skips over a number of years, I would guess that much of what is in there is unknown from either an environmental or risk perspective (ie combustible materials), on top of any asbestos concerns at the building itself," said Ms Smith (pictured below).

"With that in mind, last week I asked the Chief Executive (of Lancaster City Council) to task the council’s Environmental Health Team/Environment Agency to assess the air quality in order to be able to provide some clarity on the safety of the area which could be passed on to residents and business owners, as well as for agencies who are attending the scene, such as Lancashire Police.

"Although I have not heard from the council yet on the outcome, it does appear that this is being actioned behind the scenes, as I have been updated by some local businesses on the industrial site to say that the council are now conducting air pollution reports, which I hope can be shared soon with all people affected – including local residents."

Ms Smith has been among those calling for action at the former skip hire site, due to concerns over the state of the building, premises and waste, for several months.

A major incident was declared earlier this year following other fires at the site, and a multi-agency task force the Lancashire Resilience Forum, including the Environment Agency, Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Police, was set up.

Read our story from November: Lancaster MP calls for urgent action on skip hire site after 'major incident' declared - Beyond Radio

"Lancaster City Council and I have been asking for a meeting with a Government Minister on the situation for months now, to push for the necessary and emergency funds to tackle the clean-up and associated costs," she said.

"It is a fast moving situation, and I am trying to get as much information as possible to reassure people in the area."

Ten fire engines were called to the privately-owned A1 Supa Skips building just after 5.30am on Sunday, December 3.

The seat of fire is beneath large quantities of compact waste and pockets of fire can continue to smoulder deep within the piles for a long time.

As a result, the fire has continued to produce a smoke plume.

The authorities have also said the building itself is "structurally unsafe causing several hazards to emergency responders".

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue spokesperson said: "Firefighters are continuing to extinguish the fire in the large building that contains a large quantity of compacted waste, in conjunction with the demolition work and removal of waste from the site.

"The fire is deep seated and is going to take considerable time and resources to extinguish. Over the weekend, we have been trialing a new robot, which has enabled us to get more water on to the fire.

"For your own safety, please stay away from the incident ground as there are lots of vehicles involved in the demolition and extinguishing of the fire.

"If you can see or smell smoke from the incident, keep windows and doors closed, keep any respiratory medication to hand, minimise physical exertion and contact medical services if you are feeling unwell.

"It is also important that when circumstances allow, such as when the plume is not affecting you, you should ventilate your property to replace contaminated air with fresher air. Should this advice need to change, residents will be contacted.

"If you’re experiencing health effects that you think may be related to the smoke, please seek medical advice by calling NHS 111 or by contacting your GP. If you have an existing health condition, discuss your concerns and symptoms with a GP. In case of an emergency, call 999."

Richard Walsh, public health and protection manager for Lancaster City Council, said: “One of the main concerns that has been raised since the fire started at the Supa Skips site over a week ago is how air quality is being monitored and the effects of the smoke on local residents. 

“Lancaster has a number of air quality monitoring sites in the city centre and the data from these informed the initial air quality assessment immediately after the fire began. 

“These are now being supplemented by additional air quality monitors nearer to the scene to provide more robust and localised data. We are also looking at installing additional monitors to support this work. 

“These sites are being monitored by the city council in conjunction with the multi-agency coordination group that has been established to manage the incident. 

“The raw data from the monitors provides us with useful information but by itself does not provide the full picture and other factors also need to be taken into consideration, such as wind direction and wind speed.

“Taken together this then provides us with the information needed to determine whether additional action needs to be taken over and above the current advice.

“This advice includes that if the plume is passing your home then you should keep windows and doors closed, keep any respiratory medication to hand, avoid going outdoors, minimise physical exertion and contact medical services if you are feeling unwell.

“It is also important that when circumstances allow, such as when the plume is not affecting you, you should ventilate your property to replace contaminated air with fresher air.

“Should this advice need to change, based on the monitoring data and the other factors, contingency plans have been developed to support residents and these will be communicated should they become necessary.”

A Lancaster City Council spokesperson also said: "We continue to work with colleagues at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and other agencies, including the UK Health Security Agency, to bring the fire at the former SupaSkips building in Lancaster to a safe conclusion.

"Firefighters are continuing to extinguish the fire in the large building which contains over 13,000 tonnes of compacted waste and have been trialling a new robot which has enabled greater access to the fire. 

"The demolition of the outbuildings and the removal of waste from the outer perimeter has been taking place over the weekend.

"The smoke plume has been fluctuating in terms of the volume, colour and smell and this will persist for a protracted period."

Read more: Council to pay up to £262,000 in demolition costs at fire-ravaged former Lancaster skip hire site - Beyond Radio

Lancaster City Council has set up a web page with answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the fire HERE.

Ms Smith has also wtritten to mobile phone company O2 on several occasions asking about vandalised masts on the chimney tower of the former skip hire building which has caused very poor signal in the area. She has called for the phone company to find an alternative site for the masts.

Beyond Radio has contacted O2 for comment and we have more to come on this story.