Report notes key role staff played tacking inferno

The newly-published Director of Public Health report by the Public Health Agency (PHA) refers to the key role played by agency staff in the aftermath of the blaze in Campsie Industrial Estate last October.

The fire among used tyres was reported to the Public Health Agency (PHA) doctor on-call by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) due to its significant public health impact.

Sixteen fire tenders from across Northern Ireland and Donegal and 70 personnel were called to fight the blaze.

And although no casualties were reported the incident raised concerns due to an acrid black plume of smoke seen emanating from the burning tyres - containing the toxic chemicals carbon monoxide, benzene, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, and potential water and land pollutants such as heavy metals, oils and carbon black.

The report notes that PHA staff co-operated with other statutory bodies to lessen the impact on local residents who complained of an unpleasant smell, throat irritation and runny eyes.

Utilising weather forecasting tools generated by the Met Office, health protection staff carried out dynamic public health risk assessments and fed the results of these into the multi-agency incident meetings.

The report notes: “A decision was taken to close a nearby primary school for one day when a change in wind direction resulted in the grounding of the smoke plume over the playground and the ensuing increased public health risk to this vulnerable population.

“PHA staff worked over the next few days in the multi-agency response and recovery with partner organisations from the emergency services and statutory agencies including NIFRS, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Derry City Council, the Environment Agency, the Loughs Agency, the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.”

The PHA report concludes the outcome of its actions in the aftermath of the fire was a successful one.

It states: “Tyre fires are notoriously difficult to completely extinguish and this fire, although successfully brought under control by the NIFRS within 24 hours, had the potential to burn for a significant period.

“Health protection staff played a key role in this incident, working in a coordinated way with multi-agency partners and the site owner to

expedite the extinguishing of the fire within 96 hours and thereby limiting the public health impact of the fire on the local population.”