Minute-by-Minute Response at Bloomfield Terrace
How a 30-tonne mixed recycling stockpile in an open bay required a 9-station tactical response and mechanical digger intervention to prevent boundary fence breach.
Emergency Dispatch to AB Waste Management
West Midlands Fire Service Operations Centre received urgent emergency calls reporting dense grey smoke rising from open concrete storage bays at AB Waste Management on Bloomfield Terrace, Tipton. Initial response dispatched appliances from Tipton and Dudley fire stations.
14 Fire Appliances & 2 Aerial Platforms Deployed
Crews found approximately 30 tonnes of mixed recyclables deeply seat-alight. Strong ambient drafts through the open yard fanned flames across adjoining bays. Incident Commander escalated attendance to 14 appliances, bringing in crews from Bilston, Brierley Hill, Oldbury, West Bromwich, Smethwick, and Willenhall, alongside two hydraulic aerial platforms.
On-Site Diggers Deconstruct Burning Mounds
Because surface hose streams could not penetrate the compressed 30-tonne mound, on-site heavy plant operators coordinated with WMFS crews. Mechanical diggers systematically scooped burning layers out into the clear yard area, allowing high-pressure branches to quench each bucket load individually.
Fire Brought Under Control & Handed Back
Crews remained on scene through Sunday night, applying continuous water curtains to hotspots and monitoring core temperatures. Zero injuries were reported, and the site was stabilized without structural loss.