December 8 2014.


The following advice has been provided by Public Health England: Smoke could be an irritant and therefore residents in areas affected by the smoke should stay indoors and keep their doors and windows closed. If people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid outside areas affected by any smoke or ash, or to limit the time that they spend in them.

Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.

Some of the substances present in smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages, the skin and the eyes. Respiratory symptoms include coughing and wheezing, breathlessness, sputum (phlegm) production and chest pain. If symptoms occur, people should seek medical advice or call NHS 111. Smoke can worsen existing health problems like asthma.

So far, there have been no reports of any people experiencing ill effects from this fire. The Fire and Rescue Service is on-site dealing with the fire and the other agencies involved will continue to monitor the situation and issue advice to the public, businesses and organisations affected as necessary.