15 fire engines tackle blaze at waste management site in Buckshaw Village with residents urged to close windows and doors

Eight fire engines from Bamber Bridge, Chorley, Leyland, Fulwood, Blackburn and Penwortham first attended the incident in Dawson Lane at around 12.15am on Wednesday (July 13).

The command support unit from Fulwood as well as a Hagglund all-terrain vehicle and water bowser were also called to help extinguish the fire.

Crews discovered the fire involved a “large amount of landfill waste” that had gone up in flames at Clayton Hall Landfill site.

In an update posted at 1pm, LFRS confirmed the number of fire engines had increased to 15 and crews were continuing to battle the flames.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This incident is creating a large smoke plume, which is affecting residential properties nearby.

“If you can see or smell any smoke, close all your windows and doors.”

Crews worked tirelessly to put out the fire and worked with specialists from the Environment Agency as well as local authorities.

It was expected the fire service would remain at the site all day.

Lancashire Police warned residents Dawson Lane was closed in both directions and urged people to seek alternative routes.

Temporary traffic lights were subsequently set up on Preston Road in both directions between Dawson Lane and Factory Lane.

People were also urged not to use drones at the scene as LFRS were using their own.

“Please do not fly drones nearby as you will be obstructing this emergency operation,” a spokesman for LFRS added.