Barking fire: One hundred firefighters battle huge blaze at east London recycling plant
More than 100 firefighters are battling a huge blaze at a recycling plant in east London.
Huge plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the air from the blaze in Barking has disrupted traffic heading towards City Airport.
Some19 fire engines rushed to the paper recycling plant in River Road just before 6.30am.
A huge cordon has been put up around the scene of the blaze amid fears gas canisters inside the building could explode, London Fire Brigade said.
Crews from East Ham, Plaistow, Ilford and Dagenham are among those tackling flames.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, an LFB spokesman said.
Paramedics from the London Ambulance Service's Hazardous Area Response Team also rushed to the scene.
Over 100 firefighters remain at the scene of the fire at the recycling factory on River Road #Barking - crews are working hard to bring the fire under control https://t.co/FZsXLpPaX4 pic.twitter.com/zcn7oxYpEu
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) May 23, 2018
No injuries were reported, a spokesman said.
City Airport warned passengers to expect delays on roads surrounding the travel hub.
A tweet posted on the airport’s official Twitter account said: “Passengers please be aware there may be heavy traffic and delays getting to the airport this morning due to a fire at a recycling plant on the River Road, Barking. For alternative routes, we advise to use the DLR.”
Motorists reported being stuck in tailbacks for hours.
Awful delays this morning due to #riverroad fire & #a13 collision! #ThamesViewEstate is cutoff & isolated. Thank u everyone for being patient & still getting into School. I took the @LDNOverground @RidingtheGoblin @LdnOvergroundU 2 #Barking & then #walked! #BetterLateThanNever pic.twitter.com/jY8g2hAM9U
— Thames View Infants (@TVInfants) May 23, 2018
One person wrote on Twitter: "Just took me over 2 hours to drive 12 miles due to the fire in Barking. Nightmare."