‘Most likely’ cause of massive fire at Sackers, in Great Blakenham, near Ipswich, revealed

The most likely cause of a massive fire at a scrap metal recycling plant near Ipswich has been revealed.

Following an investigation, Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said a discarded battery, which made its way into a pile of scrap metal, is likely to have led to the blaze at Sackers, in Great Blakenham, on Thursday.

Cllr Steve Wiles, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for public protection, has urged people to properly dispose of batteries to prevent future incidents like this.

If batteries are crushed in the recycling process, they can be punctured and self-combust, setting fire to anything dry or flammable nearby.

Crews from across Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex including Ipswich, Needham Market, Felixstowe, Colchester and Newmarket attended the site, in Gipping Road, from 9.57am.

At its peak, 14 engines – and about 80 firefighters – battled the blaze at one time.

The giant plume of smoke could be seen from as far away as Diss and Harwich.

Roads were closed and rail lines between Ipswich, Cambridge and Ely were disrupted, while residents in the surrounding area were told to keep windows and doors shut.

Cllr Wiles said: “This was a major incident that caused massive disruption to a great many people and saw firefighters put themselves potentially in harm’s way as they bravely dealt with it.

“We all use batteries, we all benefit from them, and therefore it is everyone’s responsibility to dispose of them safely.

“I would urge people to learn from this incident – please, when you get rid of a battery, do it properly.”

Firefighters brought the Sackers blaze under control within a few hours, but remained there into the night.

The council said waste batteries and electrical items should never be disposed of using household waste.

Instead, they can be recycled at one of 11 recycling centres in Suffolk, as well as other local recycling banks.

Many supermarkets also accept them.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) said in May that lithium-ion batteries thrown in household rubbish bins had led to more than 1,200 fires in the UK waste system in the last 12 months, compared to 700 in 2022.

In June last year, operations were disrupted at Haverhill waste transfer station in Homefield Road after fire broke out amongst 50 tonnes of rubbish and which is thought to have been caused by a battery.