Slitting Mill fire is still burning ONE YEAR ON
A huge blaze which ignited at a Staffordshire farm causing thick plumes of black smoke and toxins to spread up to four miles away is still burning - ONE YEAR ON.
Firefighters are having to inspect Oak Tree Farm at Slitting Mill up to once a week due to outbreaks of smoke from the stack of 1,000 tonnes of waste which burst into flames on September 5, 2016.
Officials from Cannock Chase and Staffordshire councils along with the Environment Agency are still monitoring the situation.
Dermot Hogan, western service delivery group lead at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The fire at Oak Tree Farm in Slitting Mill is still smouldering under a cap of earth.
"Rugeley firefighters inspect the site, at least fortnightly and sometimes weekly.
"On occasion small amounts of smoke rise from the stack and when this happens we take the necessary action to minimise the impact of this.
"We continue to work alongside our partners from the Environment Agency and the county and district councils, to monitor the situation."
Cannock Chase MP Amanda Milling told the Express & Star residents are still contacting her about the site on a regular basis.
She reiterated her vow to secure a Parliamentary debate around illegal waste and the fire risks they incur.
Miss Milling said: "The burning is controlled now, it is burning underneath the cap.
"The smoke coming from there now seems to be next to nothing.
"People still talk to me about it even now, people in Rugeley want to know what is happening there.
"They tell me about the smell in their houses and on their curtains, the impact on their breathing as a result of it.
"For me what is really important on the back of the horrific events of Grenfell Tower is to highlight the need to manage fire risk, and fire risks come from illegal waste sites."
The MP also made reference to the recent concerns raised by Augean in relation to the risk of fire spreading to a nearby housing development in Bridgtown.
She added: "Slitting Mill was awful for residents but at least they were not in close proximity to the site, whereas Augean is a few feet away.
"I will be persistently putting in requests to secure a debate around the issues of illegal waste and fire risk in Parliament."
