Ref. 30951-04A BLAZE at a landfill site near Swindon engulfed an area the size of a football pitch and could have gone on burning for days.

The fire, which broke out yesterday morning, was put out on the surface before it had the chance to spread underground.

Firefighters were battling against the clock to prevent the incident at Studley Grange landfill site from escalating into a major emergency.

They fought for more than three hours to stop the fire from going underground at the Biffa Waste Services premises in Hay Lane, near Junction 16 of the M4.

Crews were called to the blaze at 7.30am and were still dampening the area into the afternoon.

Appliances were brought in from Swindon, Westlea and Stratton, with special water-carrying tenders from Wootton Bassett and Ramsbury.

The flames engulfed an area of about 100 metres by 30 metres equivalent to a football pitch and about 200 litres of foam retardant were used to bring it under control.

Smoke from the fire could be seen billowing into the sky for miles around.

Station Commander Pete Townsend said that if the fire had managed to burrow underground the fire could have taken days rather than just hours to put out.

He said: "We were told on arrival that waste was buried two metres below the ground, so we hit the fire hard with water and foam to stop it from burrowing, we managed to keep it on the surface and the fire was under control in three hours.

"If it had got underground, it would have been a lot harder to deal with."

Investigations are now under way, but Station Commander Townsend said that the fire could easily have been caused by something as simple as a discarded cigarette end.

Barry Walton, a spokesman for Biffa, said that the firm was helping the fire service with its inquiries.

In a statement he said: "We believe the fire started at 7.30 this morning and, in line with company policy, the fire services were alerted. The fire has only affected the surface of the tip the cover material which protects the waste underneath.

"We do not yet know the cause of the fire, but we are working with the fire service and will be taking a lead from them when it comes to investigating the circumstances."

Deliveries to the landfill site have been diverted to other sites in the area.

The site is generally used for the disposal of industrial and commercial wastes, as well as difficult wastes such as asbestos sheeting, contaminated soil and construction and demolition material.

Anthony Osborne