Widnes fire rages as 'multiple explosions' heard and smoke visible for miles

A major incident was declared tonight after a fire in Widnes led to "multiple explosions and smoke billowing into the sky. Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed 20 fire engines were at the scene of the blaze, a recycling plant in Everite Road in Widnes, with support being deployed from Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

Crews were initially called to the scene just before 4.30pm this evening and found 700 tons of waste cardboard in the single storey building on fire. The blaze spread rapidly and sent heavy plumes of smoke visible from as far as the Silver Jubilee Bridge, the Knowsley Expressway, Speke, West Derby, Mossley Hill, Huyton, Page Moss and Liverpool city centre, as well as Bickerstaffe and Lytham in Lancashire and north Wales.

The fire service said at 5.30pm that the building was at risk of collapsing, with nearby residents and businesses urged to keep their windows and doors closed.

All persons were accounted for and no injuries were reported. Road closures were put in place on Everite Road, Hale Road and Ditchfield Road.

One man, who lives on Ditchfield Road, told the ECHO he heard loads of bangs before looking out of his back window and seeing the smoke rising.

A taxi driver who was over the road from the scene at Speke Road added: "There's a huge fire raging. The entire sky over Liverpool is turning black and multiple explosions are currently taking place. It is a big fire.

Im looking into Widnes. The fire is so big. It started about 25 minutes ago. There are a lot of fire trucks at the scene. The whole area here smelled of chemicals and it was hard to breathe. I had a passenger and I left."

An ECHO photographer at the scene reported hearing a loud bang just after 6pm. An hour later, he saw ash raining down from the sky on Coronation Drive nearby.

The scene was declared a major incident at 6pm as fire fighters continued to tackle the blaze. The fire service also shared a close-up of the huge amount of rubbish going up in flames, with the building looking very unstable.

A spokesperson for Cheshire Police said: "At 4.45pm today, Monday June 22, police were called to reports of a large fire at a recycling facility on Everite Road, Widnes.

"Officers are at the scene and are assisting Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service with traffic management. There are no reports of any injuries at this time.

"Road closures are currently in place on Everite Road, Hale Road and Ditchfield Road, and motorists are advised to avoid the area. Nearby residents and businesses are also advised to keep windows and doors closed."

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