Families flee toxic fumes from waste depot blaze

Fire broke out just after midnight yesterday at the WasteCare recycling and processing plant in Wakefield Road, Garforth.

Fire crews used water jets and foam to prevent the blaze spreading to nearby homes. Twenty nearby residents and 100 guests at the nearby Holiday Inn were moved out.

Three firefighters were admitted to hospital for a precautionary check-up.

The Health Protection Agency urged people to stay indoors and close windows to avoid breathing in any smoke.

West Yorkshire chief fire officer Simon Pilling said: "We were faced with a rapidly escalating fire which was contained very successfully and I would like to thank all the agencies for giving us such excellent support."

Police evacuated residents from nearby Hawthorne Terrace to the Gaping Goose public house.

Closures affected local roads including the A63 Selby Road and the A642 Wakefield Road.

Dr Mike Gent, consultant in communicable disease control at West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, said: "Residents in areas affected by the smoke should stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed as a precautionary measure.

"Any motorists travelling through smoke should keep their windows closed and turn off air conditioning and keep air vents closed.

"Any smoke can be an irritant and as such, if people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.

"Chemicals in the smoke can worsen existing health problems like asthma. Some of the substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes."

Yorkshire Water said that drinking water had not been affected.