Major fire at Perth recycling plant

Major fire at Perth recycling plant. BBC Scotland News.

Emergency services are fighting a large fire at a recycling centre in Perth, close to the A9. Video courtesy of Ian Haig
A crowd of people had to run to safety after a gas canister exploded during a major blaze at a Perth recycling plant.

Staff at Wyllie Recycling and neighbouring units were evacuated as a result of the fire, which could be seen for miles around.

The exploding canister sent shrapnel flying more than 40ft, with one piece of debris landing in a field where people had been watching the fire.

Firefighters were called to the Inveralmond industrial estate at 07:40.

Tayside Fire Service said about 100 tonnes of rubbish had caught fire, causing a mile-high plume of black smoke to drift across the A9 dual carriageway and for about five miles across the centre of Perth.

“As soon as we heard the bang we all legged it. People were running for their lives”

The fire is also understood to have spread to other buildings on the site and is close to a kerosene tank which is causing concern to firefighters.

Witness Gerry Scott, 27, said he had been driving to work in Perth when he saw the smoke rising from the recycling plant in Ruthvenfield Way and pulled over to watch with workers from the estate and other motorists.

He said: "You could feel the heat from it a long way back. Then there was a loud crack, like a car backfiring or fireworks going off, and that must have been some sort of gas canister.

"You could clearly see bits of it flying through the air and the largest piece tore right through the roof of the factory and something like 60 feet into the sky.

"As soon as we heard the bang we all legged it. People were running for their lives and it's just as well they did because bits were landing near where they had been standing."

Motorists reported being able to see the smoke from the blaze up to 20 miles away.

Tayside Fire and Rescue sent 10 fire engines from across Perthshire to fight the blaze, as well as an aerial ladder platform and a command support unit.

The fire caused extensive damage to the unit as paper, cardboard and general waste caught alight.

Police said smoke from the fire was not affecting local roads
An investigation into the source of the blaze has been launched, but it is not believed to be suspicious.

A Tayside Police spokesman said: "We attended a recycling centre in Ruthvenfield Way, Perth, shortly before 8am. We were alerted by Tayside Fire and Rescue to a fire which had taken hold in the yard.

"The smoke is not causing difficulty to road users as it is moving up and over the A9. It is not affecting traffic at this time. Waste paper and cardboard is on fire and the blaze is now under control.

"All members of staff at the recycling centre have been accounted for and neighbouring businesses have been made aware of what has happened."

Scottish Water said people living near the scene of the fire may have their water cut off or experienced low pressure as the fire service tap into the mains supply for water to fight the blaze.

A spokesman for the company added: "When supplies are fully restored customers may also experience some discolouration to their supply, this discolouration is harmless and will gradually disappear as the system returns to normal.

"We apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you for your patience and cooperation."