Battery recycling centre explosion

Homes evacuated amid huge damage to the environment

- DARREN SMITH

FIREFIGHTERS tackled a blaze that engulfed a number of lorries parked on the premises of battery recycling firm Portable Battery Recycling Ltd. (PBR) in Wythenshawe, Manchester.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said the blaze broke out on Ennis Close, Wythenshawe, on Sunday February 23 and forced local residents to evacuate their homes.

The fire raged for over three hours and involved ten fire engines at its height, scaling back to four engines as it was brought under control after nearly three hours, GMFRS said.

The fire service had advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area as huge plumes of black smoke hung over the vicinity.

GMFRS said fire engines from across Greater Manchester were called to the blaze.

A spokesperson said: "Crews arrived quickly" and worked hard to extinguish the fire.

Greater Manchester Police and North West Ambulance Service were also in attendance but confirmed there were no casualties.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said a cordon had been put in place and its officers had helped evacuate nearby homes. Residents have since returned to their homes.

PBR has an operating licence for five trucks and one trailer, and specialises in collecting, recycling and disposing of portable, household, industrial and automotive batteries.

One user on X, previously known as Twitter, described seeing smoke and hearing explosions 'popping off' from what is thought to be a battery recycling plant at the Roundthorn Industrial Estate in Wythenshawe.