Waste management firm insist plant is safe after second fire in three years

A waste management firm has insisted the plant is safe despite suffering the second large scale fire there in three years.

Around 45 firefighters were called to Todd Waste Management in Thirsk, shortly after 5am after the blaze broke out in buildings containing 160 tonnes of compacted household and commercial waste.

This is the second fire at the plant in three years. The first in May 2011. Firefighters said the blaze was under control but are expected to be on the site until tomorrow. Philip Atkinson, a director at the plant, said their procedures had worked and insisted the plant was safe.