Aberthaw Power Station fire: Huge blaze erupts as urgent advice issued | UK | News
Urgent advice has been issued to local residents as firefighters battle a massive blaze at a power station in England. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) is attending the “major” fire at Aberthaw Power Station near Rhoose in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Video footage from the scene shows clouds of black smoke rising over Wales’ last coal-fired power station. Citizens living in the area were asked to keep their doors and windows closed. Crews from across Wales are fighting the fire. SWFRS says staff from stations including Ely, Llantwit Major, Kenfig Hill, Barry, Penarth, Whitchurch, Cardiff Central, Pontypridd, Maindee, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfill, New Inn, Cwmbran, Tonypandy and Bridgend remain at the scene.
A statement from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service reads: “We are currently responding to a major fire at Aberthaw Power Station in Barry. Local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the heavy amounts of smoke. Thank you for your calls.”
SWFRS director Tony Redman said: “Crews continue to battle the fire at Aberthaw Power Station in Barry. We are advising residents to keep their windows and doors closed.
“Although the current wind direction is carrying most of the smoke out to sea, smoke could affect areas such as Rhoose and Font-Y-Gary.
“We thank the public for their cooperation.”
CCR Energy, the company leading the project to redevelop the facility to produce alternative energy, said that all personnel were reported to be safe.
Senedd Member for the area Andrew RT Davies said: “We are deeply concerned about the fire at the Aberthaw Power Station site. Authorities have advised all residents in the area to keep windows and doors closed.
“I would like to thank the brave firefighters on scene who worked hard to make the area safe. If anyone requires further information please get in touch.”
Aberthaw Power Station, which produces electricity from coal, was closed in 2020 due to concerns about the nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide it produced.
Environmental groups have argued it is one of Wales’ biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Coal production officially ended in 2019 and the station officially closed on March 31, 2020, ending nearly 60 years of electricity production at the site.
