New video and photos show extent of huge fire raging at recycling plant

This was the scene of a huge fire at a Rotherham recycling plant, which filled the skies with thick smoke visible from Sheffield.
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Fire crews were called to the blaze at Accoil Paper Recycling on Brookfields Way, Wath-Upon-Dearne, at 4.25am on Thursday, July 16.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said there was a ‘large amount of recyclable waste’ alight, and around 30 firefighters remained at the scene at 8am this morning.

Firefighters tackle a blaze at a recycling centre in Wath-Upon-Dearne, RotherhamFirefighters tackle a blaze at a recycling centre in Wath-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham
Firefighters tackle a blaze at a recycling centre in Wath-Upon-Dearne, Rotherham
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Residents of Wath-Upon-Dearne and nearby Mexborough were initially advised to keep their windows closed to avoid breathing in the smoke.

But the fire service later said the fire was now ‘surrounded’ and the plumes of smoke had ‘massively reduced’.

In an update shared shortly after 8am, the service said: “It is now safe for residents to open windows and doors and are encouraged to do so.”

No one is believed to have been injured in the blaze, the cause of which is not yet known.