Fire crews continue to battle blaze at Suez recycling facility in Altens three days on

Firefighters are continuing to battle a devastating blaze that broke out at a waste recycling plant in Aberdeen three days after the initial outbreak.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that firefighters were dealing with a “significant” incident after the blaze broke out at the Suez facility in Altens on Friday.

After crews initially left the scene, more than 20 appliances had been scrambled from across the North East of Scotland after the fire became “reignited” on Saturday morning.

On Monday, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) spokesman confirmed that two appliances and two specialist resources remained at the scene.

Deputy assistant chief officer Stephen Wood is the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service head of service delivery for the North of Scotland said work to make the site safe was ongoing – over 72 hours after the fire began.

He added: “We were alerted at 4.37pm on Friday, July 8, to reports of a fire within a recycling centre in Aberdeen.

“Operations Control mobilised nine fire appliances, plus a number of specialist resources, to the scene at Altens Industrial Estate, Hareness Place.

“Firefighters thereafter spent several hours fighting a highly challenging fire which had taken hold of a large area of mixed waste.

“Due to the nature of this significant incident, firefighters have been in attendance at the scene over the weekend.

“We currently have two fire appliances and two specialist resources in attendance on Monday, July 11, where firefighters are working to dampen down remaining hotspots and make the area safe.

“While the fire was contained to within the recycling centre, we know there has been an impact on local residents, in terms of some wide-spread smoke and a reduced water supply.

“I would like to thank them for their patience and understanding as we work to extinguish it as quickly and safely as possible.”

John Wilkinson, regional director for SUEZ recycling and recovery UK said: “The Scottish Fire and Rescue service continue to manage the fire at our recycling facility in Altens, Aberdeen that started late afternoon on Friday, July 8.

“With the facility out of action, we have been working over the weekend to put in place alternative arrangements for Aberdeen’s household waste and recycling in order to minimise disruption to householders – although suspended today, collections are due to resume tomorrow, with Saturday collections taking place to catch up on today’s rounds.

“When the fire has been dealt with we will be able to assess the full extent of the damage and there will be an investigation into the cause.

“I would like to thank the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for their continued efforts to manage the fire and apologise for the disruption to our neighbours and the local community.”