Major Incident stood down – but Fire remain at site of large fire at Rushden warehouse

The major incident declared by the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) in response to a large fire in Rushden has been stood down.

A Major Incident was declared earlier after Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called shortly before 6.30am today (May 23) to the blaze at a recycling warehouse on the Sanders Lodge industrial estate. The fire is now under control and contained within the site, although there remains a large amount of smoke billowing from the site.

People should continue to stay away from the site, and residents nearby are still being urged to keep windows and doors closed due to the remaining smoke plume.

Eight fire appliances, two aerial appliances and a specialist high-volume pump remain at the scene from Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, although this has been scaled down from the height of the incident this morning – and cross border resources from Bedfordshire and Cambridge have now left the scene.

The Fire Service will continue to remain at the fire into the weekend, and road closures near the site on Wellingborough Road will remain in place until tomorrow.

The Fire Service worked with North Northamptonshire Council and Cadent earlier today to prevent any impact on gas supply to 500 nearby properties, although a number of businesses on Sanders Lodge remain closed.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Phil Pells said: “The Local Resilience Forum has made the decision to stand down the major incident and our focus now is to ensure that we continue to damp down the fire and reduce the smoke plume.

“There will continue to be an emergency services presence at the scene overnight, and road closures will remain in place near the site until tomorrow at the earliest.

“I am grateful for the hard work of our emergency services and I’d also like to thank the community in Rushden for their cooperation, support and understanding throughout this incident.”