Blaze erupts at Ballynagran landfill in Co Wicklow

Environmental Protection Agency indicates extent of blaze unknown but fire ‘internal’

The fire service are on site and the situation is being continuously monitored,” said owners Ballynagran Landfill Ltd. Photograph: Getty Images
The fire service are on site and the situation is being continuously monitored,” said owners Ballynagran Landfill Ltd. Photograph: Getty Images

The fire brigade and the Environmental Protection Agency have been called out to a fire at the Ballynagran landfill in Co Wicklow.

The landfill, on a site covering the townlands of Ballynagran, Coolbeg and Kilcandra, near the Beehive Pub on the N11, was discovered to be on fire shortly before 10am on Monday. Wicklow County Council has also been informed.

“On Tuesday the 12th of May a situation occurred at Ballynagran Landfill Coolbeg Cross County Wicklow. In response the facility was closed to waste acceptance, the Fire Service and Environmental Protection Agency were informed. The fire service are on site and the situation is being continuously monitored,” said owners Ballynagran Landfill Ltd.

EPA informed

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The extent of the blaze was not initially known. The Environmental Protection Agency said it was aware of “an internal fire” and expected to have a more full report later on Monday.

Plans for a landfill at Ballynagran were initially advanced by Wicklow County Council in the 1990s, but the facility was ultimately developed by Greenstar. After corporate restructuring by Greenstar, the landfill was operated by Greenstar Southeast Ltd in recent years. It is understood the business was sold to new owners in the last year.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist