Blaze involving 200 tonnes of commercial waste seen from Swansea as residents urged to shut windows and stay indoors
RESIDENTS have again been urged to keep windows and doors shut as firefighters continue battling a major commercial waste fire in Port Talbot.
The blaze, involving around 200 tonnes of waste, broke out at Dock Road at around 10.45pm on Tuesday (April 29).
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Port Talbot, Neath, Morriston, Ammanford, Tumble, Carmarthen, Pontarddulais and Glynneath were sent to the scene, with support also being provided by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
Firefighters remained at the site on Wednesday morning (April 30), with the service saying crews had made steady progress overnight. Teams are continuing to tackle the fire and monitor hotspots, while partner agencies work together as part of a coordinated response.
Road closures are still in place to allow emergency access and support operations, and the public has been asked to stay away from the area.
A fire service spokesperson said: “Local residents are advised to continue keeping windows and doors closed if smoke is present in their area.”
One resident living nearby said the smoke had been overwhelming.
John Williams, who lives around a mile from the scene, said: “It was like a massive black cloud hanging over the whole town. We’re only a mile away, but the smoke was so thick it drifted straight into our street.
“You could smell that horrible, acrid, chemical burning smell even with the windows shut. My wife had to close all the curtains because the sky went dark in the middle of the afternoon.
“It reminded me of the old days when the steelworks used to pump out heavy smoke, but this felt worse – more toxic. We’ve been keeping the kids indoors all evening.”
The scale of the fire was such that flames and smoke were reportedly visible as far away as Swansea, around 13 miles from the scene.
The fire service also urged people to only call 999 if life or property is in immediate danger, so emergency control room staff can manage resources effectively.
Further updates are expected as the incident continues.
