03/10/05 Wood fire 'was hazard for years'

The recycling firm said the blaze started from heat and pressure building up within the wood.
People living near a fire which has been burning for nearly two weeks, said they had complained for years that it was a potential hazard.

The blaze began under a stockpile of thousands of tons of wood chippings. Residents have been told to keep their doors and windows shut.

The fire at Griffiths Pallets in Hendy, near Llanelli, is thought to have begun due to spontaneously combustion

On Friday, the firm apologised to its neighbours.

Fire crews attempted to put the fire out but it has been allowed to burn itself out.

Andrew Rothe of Griffiths Pallets said on Friday: "On behalf of the company all I can do is apologise for what has happened with the fire."

The blaze can be seen for miles around the village of Hendy

He added: "We are doing our best to help the fire brigade in containing the fire.

"The fire is considerably down to what it was last week.

"We have brought in extra machinery and other men to actually get the situation under control.

"We can only apologise. Our priority is it get this situation under control so that the local community can get back to normal as soon as possible."

Hendy scrap wood fire
The fire has been burning for a number of days

An investigation has been launched into the cause of the blaze.

Officers from Carmarthenshire Council are working with the Mid and West Wales Fires Service and the Environment Agency on a daily basis.

Head of protection for the council, Phil Davies said: "We are here every day monitoring the effects of the smoke and if there is a need for us to take people away from the smoke we will do that."

He said that samples were being taken from the site to establish what is left in the residue of the ash in order to protect the public.

Misery

Local residents have complained about the effects the fire has had on their lives.

Heather Hopkin has lived near the site for 40 years.

"It is a wonderful place to live, but since the fire it's been a misery," she said.

"I've been feeling quite depressed. This fortnight has just been really depressing and frightening because at the height of the fire you just didn't know what was going to happen."

Around 130 tonnes of wood, mostly pallets, which were due to be chipped, are burning in the fire and it is expected to be days before it burns itself out.

Divisional Officer Wyn Edwards, the fire officer in charge of the incident said: "The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has taken the decision to allow the fire to burn out, in a controlled way.

"This will minimise the amount of smoke and steam discharged into the air, and will reduce the quantity of firefighting water running off the site into nearby streams and rivers".