Chirk primary school to “keep pupils indoors today and tomorrow” due to ongoing Kronospan fire

A primary school in Chirk has taken the decision to “keep pupils indoors today and tomorrow” as a result of the ongoing fire at Kronospan.

Firefighters remain at the incident, having been called to the fire at the factory’s log yard in the early hours of Monday morning. The fire involves a quantity of logs and wood chip material

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service say that its crews are working with staff on site and are expected to remain on site throughout the day.

Yesterday residents in the area were advised to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution due to the forecasted change in wind direction.

Ysgol Y Waun, on Lloyd’s Lane in Chirk, tweeted this morning to say it had taken advice from the environmental health, housing team and the local authority health and safety team regarding the fire at Kronospan.

As a precaution the school says it has taken the decision to “keep pupils indoors today and tomorrow”. This decision will be reviewed early on Friday.

Dear Parents,
We have taken advice from the Environmental Health/ Housing Team and the Local Authority Health & Safety team regarding the fire that is burning in the Kronospan Log yard.
The fires, even when extinguished, are expected to continue to produce smoke for up to 4 days.

— Ysgol Y Waun (@YWaunChirk) January 15, 2020

The changing wind direction will determine which parts of Chirk are affected.
As a precaution we have taken the decision to keep pupils indoors today and tomorrow and to review the situation on Friday morning (17th January)
Sincerely – J. Roberts/ F. Hemmings

— Ysgol Y Waun (@YWaunChirk) January 15, 2020

Yesterday Wrexham Council issued advice to the local community from Public Health Wales, urging those who live in areas affected by smoke to stay indoors and to keep windows and doors closed.

A council spokesperson said: “The fire service has been in attendance since responding to the incident and has confirmed that the fire is contained and under control. The managed fire will continue to burn for a period of time. The fire will be extinguished as soon as practicable, depending on the prevailing weather conditions.

“If you are in a place affected by smoke, stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed when affected by the smoke, but open them again to air your home when the smoke passes.

“If you need to be outdoors, avoid areas affected by smoke or ash, or limit the time you spend in them.

“Motorists who have travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.

“Smoke can irritate airways, the skin and the eyes leading to coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain. This can also mean that problems such as asthma get worse; people with asthma should carry their inhaler with them at all times.

“Odours associated with fires can cause annoyance, stress and anxiety, nausea, headaches or dizziness. These are common reactions to odours, rather than to the substances that cause the smell.

“We are able to detect odours at levels that are much lower than can cause harm to health.

“Anyone concerned about their symptoms should contact their GP or NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. The symptoms usually disappear quickly and should not lead to long term health problems.”

Picture: Clean Air for Chirk