Cross Green fire: Cause of huge Leeds scrapyard blaze confirmed as company issues stark warning
The cause of a huge blaze at a Leeds scrapyard has been confirmed after fire crews tackled the fire through the night.
The fire started last Tuesday evening (January 6) at EMR metal recycling plant on Knowsthorpe Way in Cross Green and continued through the night and into the next day.
The fire occurred nearly a year to-the-day that a similar fire started at the same site, which was found to have been caused by a discarded battery.
EMR has now released a statement saying that investigations indicate that last week’s fire was also caused by a lithium-ion battery. A stark warning has also been shared about the “significant risk” the batteries pose.
A spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a fire occurred at EMR Leeds Cross Green on January 6 at 10:30pm. Our team responded swiftly, activating our on-site emergency protocols and immediately notifying the fire service.
“Working closely together, our team and the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service brought the incident under control quickly and safely.”
The company confirmed that no injuries were sustained and there was “minimal structural damage to the site and equipment”.
The spokesperson added: “Initial investigations suggest that a lithium-ion battery was the cause of the fire.
“Lithium-ion batteries are responsible for more than 1,000 fires in the UK waste sector each year.
“Despite our stringent quality assurance measures, these hazardous items continue to pose a significant risk to recycling operations globally.
“We remain committed to reducing the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries by working closely with our customers, partners, and battery manufacturers.
“A key part of this approach is educating communities on safe disposal and responsible recycling, helping to prevent incidents and protect people and the environment. We also continue to take a proactive role within the wider recycling industry, collaborating both in the UK and internationally to address this growing challenge.”
During the blaze West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service issued a warning to neighbours to keep their windows shut due to the large plume of smoke.
The EMR spokesperson said: “We would like to apologise to the local community, neighbouring businesses, and our customers for any inconvenience caused.
“Safety remains our highest priority — for our colleagues, our communities, and the environment — as we continue to ensure that metal recycling plays a vital role in building a safe, sustainable, circular economy.”
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has also issued a follow-up statement saying that the fire has been recorded as “accidental” and that the source was a lithium-ion battery.