Firefighters tackle blaze at UK power station
Around 100 firefighters were battling a blaze at a power station in Britain this morning.
Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters were called to Tilbury Power Station at about 7.46am, with 15 fire engines and three aerial ladder platforms, used to reach higher places, sent to the scene.
A spokesman, who described the blaze as “severe”, said the officer in charge had reported that the fire is in a wood pellet hopper containing 2,100 tonnes of machinery.
Opened in 1969, Tilbury previously operated as a coal-fired power station but has been converted to generate power from 100% sustainable biomass until its scheduled closure at the end of 2015.
Biomass plants burn wood pellets, generally made from compacted sawdust or other wastes from sawmilling and other manufactured wood products.
