Blenheim rubbish treatment plant closed over cardboard fire, residents advised to close windows

A fire broke out at the Blenheim Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre on Wither Rd this afternoon.

Fire crews have rushed to the scene of a blaze at a rubbish treatment plant in Blenheim.

In a post on its Facebook page at 2.50pm, the Marlborough District Council said crews were on site at the Blenheim Transfer Station and Resource Recovery Centre on Wither Rd.

“There is considerable smoke. Residents and businesses nearby are advised to close all windows and avoid smoke inhalation,” the post said.

“The facility is closed to the public until further notice. Further updates will be provided as information is available.”

The council said, in a later post, the transfer station was closed to the public until further notice because of a fire on site.

“All staff have been safely evacuated.

“Wither Rd Extension is also now closed to traffic. Neither facility will be open for the rest of the day. Further details will be provided as information is available.”

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand shift manager told the Herald crews first received a call to the incident at 2.23pm.

“We sent two appliances from Blenheim. Upon arrival it was upgraded to a second alarm fire and further appliances from Renwick and Woodburn were called to the scene,” he said.

“The building is 20m x 40m and 8m high. The fire is located in multiple bundles of cardboard.

“Crews are still at work attempting to contain the blaze.”

Sign up to The Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.