Fire crews remain on site at the fire at Greenway Polymers site in Ketley, which began on Monday, 26 April.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dan Quinn said; “We continue to work hard on site to extinguish the fire. Although this is a complex incident, it is under control and we are mitigating the impact of the fire on our local communities.
“We are working with partners to dismantle the structure in order to allow our crews full access to the area. There is an expectation that we will be present on site for a total of 7 to 10 days whilst we bring this incident to its resolution. Nearby residents should continue to keep windows and doors closed”.
A spokesperson for Highways England said “The M54 has now been restored to full carriageway running capacity, with eastbound slip road closure and main carriageway lane closures now fully removed. We continue to work with all partners involved to support the ongoing multi agency response to this incident”
Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Councillor Shaun Davies said: “As a Council we are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our residents and businesses and committing resources to minimise the impact.
“We’re committed to working with partners on this significant fire that will take time to fully extinguish. Conditions could change at very short notice and we will continue to do all can to keep everyone up to date on the latest developments.”
A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said; “We are continuing to work with our partners to provide support and advice as part of the multi-agency response to the fire at a former waste site in Telford that was previously operated by Greenway Recycling Ltd.
“Our officers are also monitoring the water quality downstream of the fire for impacts on the environment and we are in close communication with the national air quality team to provide them with updates of the fire from the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.”
Dr Musarrat Afza, Health Protection consultant with Public Health England (PHE) in the West Midlands, said: “It is important that residents understand that the risk to their health is low, however any smoke can irritate airways, skin and eyes and cause coughing, wheezing breathlessness and chest pain.
“Chemicals in smoke can also worsen health problems like asthma and heart conditions so people should carry their medication if they are in areas affected by the smoke. Chemicals in the smoke can worsen existing health problems like asthma. People with asthma should carry their inhaler. If symptoms occur, people should seek medical advice or call NHS 111.
“People in areas affected by smoke should stay indoors and keep doors and windows shut, while motorists travelling through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep air vents closed. If people need to be outdoors, they should limit time spent in areas affected by smoke and ash.”
Chief Inspector James Dunn of West Mercia Police said; “We understand this incident is extremely concerning for the public and residents living or working nearby. Please be assured that all of our partner agencies are doing what they can to resolve this incident in a timely manner.
“We are supporting our colleagues at Shropshire Fire and Rescue whilst they deal with the incident itself.”
