Huge fire rips through Swindon scrapyard

Around 40 firefighters attended a huge fire at a scrapyard near Royal Wootton Bassett last week.

The fire broke out at Swindon Metal Solutions Ltd, in Thornhill on 5th July and raged for several hours.

Crews from Westlea, Swindon, Marlborough, Crickdale, Calne, Devizes, Stratton and Malmesbury attended the scene with additional support from water carriers from Royal Wootton Bassett and Ramsbury, an incident command vehicle from Stratton and an aerial appliance from Swindon.

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service have been dealing with a large fire at a scrapyard near Broad Town. Firefighters were called to Swindon Metal Solutions at 3.03pm and found a large quantity of scrap cars well alight. The fire has caused a significant plume of black smoke.”

Sara Dean, who was driving home at the time of the incident said: “I have driven down from past Cricklade and I could see it from there. It is a huge fire and I am hoping there are no gas canisters or petrol tanks that can go up and make it worse than it already is. From here you can see the flames and can hear the odd bang and crackle.”

Eye witness, Idris Lapham said: “The fire started a few hours ago, and the fire crews came quite quickly. It started small but has grown. I have never seen anything like this around here. We have not been told of any danger to us, they are just not letting anyone past this road at the moment. We have not been told of the cause but I think they may have been welding down there.”

It is not yet known how the fire started and an investigation will be carried out.