Police assist Environment Agency inspectors to access large fire on Newark industrial site

Police have assisted the Environment Agency in gaining access to the site of a fire on an industrial site off Bowbridge Road, Newark.

Although it is unconfirmed, local residents say the fire was started on November 5.

It is still burning and sending dense plumes of acrid black smoke into the skies.

Newark Fire Station told the Advertiser yesterday that they had been made aware of a controlled burn on the site.

However, a crew from Newark is at the scene and a digger is being used to rake out the remaining pile.

Whenever the pile is raked over, the smoke becomes thicker and more black.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “We are working closely with the fire service to deal with the fire on Bowbridge Road, Newark.

"Our environment officers are working to limit environmental impacts and have confirmed that the risk of pollution to water courses from surface water run-off is minimal.

"The cause of the fire is not yet known and the police have been on hand to facilitate our Environment Officers’ safe entry onto site, so that we can gather evidence.”