Fire crews are still tackling a commercial blaze in Nottinghamshire that has been raging for more than seven days, although operations are being scaled back progressively. Units from various stations across the East Midlands region were sent to deal with the inferno at the Hathernware Industrial Estate in Sutton Bonington, which sits on the border of Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, when it ignited on Wednesday morning, April 15. According to Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, the flames were devouring buildings, vehicles, timber, storage areas and sealed pressure vessels, with some of these containers bursting open. The blaze was eventually brought under control later that same day, allowing the number of firefighters at the scene to be reduced. Nevertheless, crews have maintained a presence at the site for several consecutive days because of deeply embedded pockets of burning material concealed within large quantities of waste throughout the complex.

On Friday, April 24, fire officers confirmed that while the number of crews at the scene would continue to decrease, they would still send teams throughout the weekend to monitor the location. A spokesperson expressed gratitude to community members who took part in discussions and to partner organisations. The official added that due to the progress made, the team’s on-site footprint would shrink over the weekend while firefighters would return periodically to evaluate conditions.

On Wednesday, April 22, the fire service’s area manager, Matt Reavill, observed that crews had now maintained an uninterrupted continuous operation at the site for nine days. While the majority of the fire had been extinguished, substantial challenges remained because of embedded hotspots that demanded the use of heavy construction machinery to reach them safely. Additionally, crews were carefully managing the environmental impact of their work, particularly bearing in mind the railway tracks running directly adjacent to the site.