Bury fire: Crews tackle blaze 'size of a football pitch'
- Published
The fire has been burning since late on Sunday night
Firefighters are tackling a blaze "the size of a football pitch" at a landfill site.
The fire broke out on Sunday night in Bury, Greater Manchester, near junction three of the M66 with the fire service declaring a major incident.
A large plume of smoke from Viridor Recycling Centre in Pilsworth Road could be seen for miles around.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said it would "take days to resolve".
The motorway is open but drivers have been advised to take care.
Crews have been tackling the blaze throughout the night
A section of household waste "around the size of a football pitch" was on fire
Nearby residents have been urged to keep windows and doors closed, the fire service said.
Paul Duggan, from GMFRS, said: "The smoke plume can be seen for miles around and the easterly wind means it is drifting across the motorway and in the direction of Ainsworth."
While urging caution, he said the smoke "does not pose any significant risk to people's health".
He said conditions were not easy as the surface "around the size of a football pitch" was uneven.
Chief fire officer Dave Russel described the fire as an "incredibly challenging and complex incident on a huge scale", but added crews were "making good progress".
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