Large waste fire breaks out at Walleys Quarry landfill

Multiple fire crews are tackling a "significant" blaze at a controversial Newcastle landfill.

Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service say they've deployed six fire crews, six pumps and a water carrier to Walleys Quarry in Silverdale.

The emergency call was received just before 10pm on Sunday evening, with crews from Hanley, Newcastle, Longton and Cheadle sent to the scene.

Station Manager Ben Woodward said: “The fire is producing a large smoke plume and so we ask local residents to keep their windows closed as a precautionary measure.

"Crews are expected to remain at the incident overnight."

Reacting on X, the town's MP Adam Jogee said: "Very concerned to hear that Walleys Quarry is on fire tonight - have been in touch with the Police and Fire Commissioner and asked for a briefing first thing.

"The health and safety of residents is the top priority and that’s why we need the damn site closed. And fast."

Newcastle MP Adam Jogee continued: "We will deal with the cause and the response in the days to come but to keep safe in the hours ahead, please keep your doors and windows shut.

"Keeping people safe tonight and into tomorrow is vital and the focus BUT if a fire starts, and we will find our details, it isn’t safe. And if it isn’t safe, in my view it should be closed immediately."

According to the FAQ section on the Walleys Quarry Ltd website, under the section What would happen if a fire broke out on the landfill site? it reads:

"Walleys Quarry landfill site holds a unit emergency plan that would be activated in the event of a fire. This would see staff evacuated away from the impacted area and waste deliveries halted. The fire brigade would work with the site operator to attempt to cover the burning waste with soil, and using water where appropriate. Once extinguished the site would be monitored with a waking watch to ensure that the fire had been fully extinguished.

"The Walleys Quarry community liaison group would be the primary communications route for updates from the landfill site. The fire brigade and local authority would assume control of public communications, for example instructing residents to keep their windows closed."

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