A large fire at Bell Bay in Tasmania’s north is billowing toxic smoke.
The blaze in a large pile of tyres and aluminium waste at a recycling site at Mobil Road started just before 10pm last night.
Crews initially found a burning pile of recycled steel, car bodies, tyres and steel cables.
They then realised there was hundreds of tonnes of aluminium by-product from a smelter underneath the pile.
District officer Steven Richardson says the fire can produce dangerous chemicals.
“It turns out it was by-product of the smelting process, but not one of the worst case scenario things, and we were again able to start playing water on to the fire to knock it down,” he said.
He says there were concerns about ammonia.
“Depending on the strength of it and what the wind conditions do it can be quite toxic but the weather worked in our favour last night and it wasn’t one of the worst by-products so we don’t have that concern.
“There is a possibility that it can produce small amounts of ammonia but only if it’s compromised by the fire.”
The Fire Service estimates the area burning is between 50 and 100 cubic metres.
The local council, the Environment Protection Authority and fire crews are investigating.
There is a large amount of smoke in the area and people are being urged to stay away.
It is not know how the fire started.
12 fire crews fought the fire at is height last night and three crews remain.
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