Firefighters continue to tackle significant compost fire near Melton

Firefighters are still working to fully extinguish a large compost fire in Welby, just outside Melton.

The fire has been burning for more than two weeks while crews work strategically to manage the incident and say they are making steady progress.

Crews are are spreading out the pile to reduce the temperature. Photo: Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service confirmed this afternoon (Thursday) that they still have one appliance and a water bowser at the scene where crews are spreading out the pile and dampening down to cool the temperature and prevent the fire from reigniting.

Crews have been working at the scene at Saxelbye Top Farm since 25th July and residents have commented on the smells coming from the incident depending on wind direction.

An aerial view of the incident taken last week, surrounded by dry fiels. Photo: NEMM

A statement from the service added that residents in Ab Kettleby and Welby area may be affected by large amounts of smoke due to the wind direction.

The incident is just one of many that crews at Melton Fire Station have been attending during the recent spells of dry weather.

During July the on-call crews attended more than 80 emergency incidents alongside their Wholetime colleagues while managing their full-time jobs and family life.

These included 35 fire related incidents and 4 road traffic collision and 4 rescues and 2 2 hazardous materials incidents.

Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service added that they continue to monitor the live incident at Saxelbye.