Fire on Radcliffe trading estate
1:31pm Tuesday 13th May 2008
<<p>FIREFIGHTERS were continuing to tackle a major blaze at a trading estate in Radcliffe this afternoon.
Forty firefighters and eight appliances from Bury and Bolton fire stations were at the scene at Bradley Fold Trading Estate, Bradley Fold Road at the height of the blaze.
The fire started when waste plastic caught fire in a 40x40m compound on the grounds of recycling firm Plus Polymers.
Ten cars on an adjacent car park were damaged by the blaze.
All businesses on Bradley Fold Trading Estate were evacuated as dense black smoke billowed from the site.
Extra water supplies were required due to high winds driving the fire towards buildings.
Three employees who tried to tackle the blaze before the arrival of firefighters were treated by paramedics for slight burns and the effects of smoke inhalation. They declined hospital treatment.
Bradley Fold Road remained closed to traffic this afternoon. A hazard cordon is in place because firefighters believe there may be potentially explosive acetylene cylinders on the site.
People living and working in the area were advised to keep windows and doors closed this afternoon, although the smoke cloud has now reduced.