Belfast rubbish fire operation to continue until Friday

Dozens of firefighters were still in attendance at the scene of a blaze in Belfast on Thursday, a day after it began.

The Wastebeater recycling facility, in the Blackstaff Road area on the western side of the city, had been ablaze since at least 4.30pm on Wednesday.

Firefighters at the scene of a fire at the Wastebeater recycling plant in west Belfast on Thursdayplaceholder image
Firefighters at the scene of a fire at the Wastebeater recycling plant in west Belfast on Thursday

Initially, 75 firefighters were summoned to the scene, and as of 1pm on Thursday, 25 remained at the site.

The fire brigade said the blaze was under control, but that the dampening-down operation is expected to continue for the next 24 hours.

By late Thursday, the fire brigade said the blaze was being treated as accidental.

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