Update!!! Investigations into Blaze at Envirowaste Halifax

24 hours on and fire crews are still at the scene of the incident. The fire took hold at Envirowaste Services on Swales Moor Road, Halifax around 4.20pm yesterday afternoon (28/05/15). The blaze involved a large pile of  woodchip, waste rubber and tyres. The fire could be seen for miles around as the fire developed giving off  large clouds of black smoke which covered the area.

Thick smoke rises from the scene on Swales Moor Road

Fire crews attended from Halifax, Brighouse, Illingworth, Elland and Odsal, with relief crews attending as the firefighting operations carry on into the evening.

Digger used to create fire break

Site staff used mechanical diggers to create a fire break to prevent the fire spreading to unaffected parts of the site. Crews had problems with water pressure in the area but have been able to use 2 large jets and 2 Ground monitors to tackle the fire.

1 Large jet in use

Update: Crews remained in attendance damping down overnight but due to low water pressure the Fire Services High Volume Pump was  brought in from Stanningley Fire Station. Investigations into the fire are now underway with CCTV from the site being examined as part of the process.

Re visits to the site will continue to check for any reignition at the site.

The welfare unit from Fairweather Green was also used due to the protracted nature of the incident. 

Trailers alight in yard, Shetcliffe Lane, Bradford.

Fire crews from Bradford and Odsal were called to the fire in a yard off Shetcliffe Lane at around 4:30pm today. This involved 2 trailers parked in a yard which were well alight on arrival.

Smoke from the fire could be seen around Bradford, it appeared to be a large scale fire from a distance.  Crews used 2 Large jets and 2 Breathing apparatus to extinguish the blaze.

Once sufficient water supplies were established the fire was quickly put out.

House Fire in Odsal, Bradford

Crews were called to a house fire at Pearson Road West, Odsal around 19:05hrs today (04/05/2014).
On arrival crews found that the 1st floor of the large detached property was well alight.This was attended by three appliances, two from Bradford and one from Odsal.

Bradfords CARP appliance at the front of the damaged property

Breathing apparatus teams were deployed to locate the fire using 1 Hosereel jet and 2 Breathing apparatus sets. Positive pressure ventilation fans were also used once the fire was under control to clear the property of smoke.

Crews stand by while fire investigation is underway

Fire and Police carrying out investigations into the cause.

The cause of the fire is at present being investigated by both the Fire and Police investigation teams who were both on the scene

Head on Road Traffic Collision in Oakenshaw Bradford

Fire and Ambulance crews work to release casualties

The incident at 9.25pm last night (12/01/2014) involved a Toyota Private Hire Minibus vehicle and another car. The call to Bradford Road at Oakenshaw saw 2 Fire crews, Police and ambulance paramedics respond to the scene. The road was closed as emergency services dealt with the casualties and cleared away the vehicles. 

The man who had been driving the minibus suffered head and neck injuries, while the woman who had been driving the car had pelvic and abdominal injuries.

There were 5 casualties altogether all who were transported to hospital by ambulance.

Fire crews making vehicles and scene safe

Fire crews from Odsal and Cleckheaton attended.

Fire at Carpet Factory in Liversedge near Heckmondwike

Fire crews were alerted to the fire at Heckmondwike Fibre Bonding (Carpets), Huddersfield Road, Millbridge, Liversedge at around 01:45 this morning. 
The building is on a site between Huddersfield road and Wormald Street in the town. The large fire could be seen around the area as smoke billowed from the factory premise.

View from Wormald Street side of the incident.

Additional crews were requested and appliances attended from around the brigade area.Ten pumps, an aerial appliance and other specialist equipment attended when the fire was at its peak.
It took probably an hour to 90 minutes to bring the fire under control, even with all those resources.
The large, mostly single storey building was well alight when the first firefighters arrived with the fire coming through the roof of the property.

Batley's pump supplies water to the fireground

Along with the mill building a large open area was also involved at the rear of the premise, an area of waste carpets stored in the yard. 

Firefighter from Cleckheaton using a large jet

The building is described as being around 100m x 20m in size and has been completely destroyed by the blaze. At its height fire crews were using 3 Large jets, 2 Ground monitors and an Aerial Ladder Platform monitor.

Appliances from Cleckheaton, Batley, Dewsbury, Odsal, Morley, Hunslet, Mirfield and Bradford attended along with supporting appliances. A fire service welfare unit also attended the scene. Police closed surrounding roads due to hoses and appliances blocking them. 

Bradfords ALP in use at the fire

The building is a total loss. The roof has collapsed and the walls have partially collapsed.
Investigations into the cause of the blaze continues today.

Quick News Roundup 15th August 2013

Lanes farm Pontefract Road, Ackworth, Pontefract. 15/08/2013
Firefighters from six stations across the area were called to Lanes Farm, off Pontefract Road at around 2.10am where 300 tonnes of straw were alight.
Crews expect to remain at the scene all day damping down but hope to reopen part of the A628 Ackworth Road later today. SM Gary Kendrew, fire investigator, said: “The owner of the farm was first to discover the fire. He tried to limit the damage by moving his farming machinery and vehicles but because of the radiating heat, he suffered burns to his face.
“We are still investigating with the police as to what the cause was but we have had previous fires at this farm where the cause has been deliberate.”
Anybody with any information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 

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Shirley Grove, Bailiff Bridge, Brighouse Crews from Odsal and Brighouse 15/08/2013
A 53-year-old man was underneath his car changing the oil on his Chrysler people carrier when the hoisted car fell on top of him. The victim’s arm was trapped in the engine when the fire crews arrived , this afternoon.
Fire crews used an air mat to lift the people carrier to free the man’s arm. An ambulance was at the scene and the man was taken to Calderdale hospital where he was treated for bruising.

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Dalton Mills, Dalton Lane, Keighley 14/08/2013
Firefighters battled to stop a fierce blaze spreading to an historic mill complex in Keighley.
Crews from across the district were drafted in to tackle the burning waste including plastic which sent flames shooting 30 feet into the air and thick, black smoke billowing across the town. 

Three fire crews from Bingley, Silsden and Haworth attended when the alarm was raised, at about 5:15pm.This incident was MP x 5 and two further appliances, from Keighley and Shipley, and Bradford's based aerial ladder was brought in.The Incident commander Alan Wood said the quick actions of his team helped prevent the fire catching hold inside the buildings, some parts of which are derelict and others occupied by businesses.
“The fire was in the open but extensive and  there was a lot of heat,” said Mr Wood, a watch commander at Bingley fire station.

The crews used three large jets and had the blaze under control within about half an hour but some firefighters remained at the scene damping down.No one was injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation. 

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Members of the public are being recruited to provide emergency cover should a threatened firefighters strike go ahead, the Keighley News can reveal.
Successful candidates would be trained in basic techniques before being expected to attend potentially major incidents, such as house fires and road accidents. 
People are also being hired on temporary contracts to drive appliances and operate pumps.
As part of the plan, West Yorkshire brigade bosses have also written to former firefighters asking if they would return to help out.

Among those who have condemned the move is ex-Keighley firefighter Joe O’Keeffe, who retired in 2012 after 27 years’ service. He recently received a letter at his Fell Lane, Keighley, home.
“My first reaction was anger,” said Mr O’Keeffe, 51, who fears lives could be put at risk.
“I realise the management is in a difficult position – it has a responsibility to try to provide cover, but what I don’t think is right is actively recruiting strike breakers and undermining legitimate industrial action.”
Dave Williams, West Yorkshire brigade secretary for the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said the idea of recruiting members of the public to provide cover was “ludicrous”.

“Every fire has its own dynamics – people with minimal training being sent into these situations won’t be able to react,” he said.
But Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said fire service bosses are doing what they need to in order to protect the public.
“I think it’s right management should take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the public is safe,” he added. The FBU is balloting its members for industrial action regarding planned changes to pensions.
The Government is increasing employee contributions and imposing a normal pension age of 60. Currently, the retirement age is 55, but firefighters can leave earlier if they have 25 years’ service. The FBU argues many firefighters would be unable to maintain required fitness levels until 60 and would be forced to leave, which would hit their pension. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service told us the dispute can only be resolved through national agreement, and it hopes industrial action will be avoided. But it confirmed contingency plans, including the recruitment of temporary fire crews, are being put in place.
A spokesman said: “We remain committed to protecting public safety during such periods, and the chief fire officer is actively pursuing a range of contingency planning initiatives to provide fire cover across the county during any industrial action.
“As part of our arrangements, we are asking members of the community to step forward and support us in providing temporary emergency fire crews.
“We have advertised for community response officers and driver/pump operatives to assist us in staffing some of our fire engines.”
The jobs would pay £10 per hour during training and then £150 for 12-hour operational shifts.
The brigade states applicants need to be medically and physically fit, and a test forms part of the selection process.
It adds all recruits will be closely supervised.
Fifteen-day training courses are held for the community response officers, who will carry out basic firefighting duties, and a five-day course for the driver/pump operatives, who must be qualified LGV drivers

Empty Building Fire in Cleckheaton

Cleckheaton crew member requires a Breathing apparatus set

1st January 2013 at approx 4.20pm and 3 pumps and an Aerial appliance are sent to an incident at Serpentine Road opposite the Tesco's site in Cleckheaton. This lofty single storey building involved a small fire with crews using 1 hosereel jet and Breathing apparatus sets. The fire was reported by the onsite security guard. An aerial appliance was requested to examine the roof of the building as seen below.
Appliances from Cleckheaton, Odsal and the ALP from Bradford attended.

Bradford Aerial Ladder Platform in Use