Kit PetersSTEELWORKS FIRE: Tata aims to restart Hot Strip Mill mid-next week as fire crews finally leave Port Talbot after two days
The major fire at Tata Steel’s Port Talbot works has been brought to an end, with the final fire crews leaving the site on Friday morning — more than two days after the blaze broke out.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said its last crews left the scene at 9.34am on Friday, June 5.
The fire broke out at one of the site’s processing lines on the evening of Wednesday, June 3, and burned through the following day before it was finally extinguished.
A turntable ladder reaches towards the roof inside the steelworks as crews worked through the night. Image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue ServiceThe fire service has now revealed the full scale of the response, describing one of the most demanding operations it has faced in years.
Crews from 17 fire stations attended over the course of the incident — from Port Talbot, Neath and Morriston to as far afield as Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven — backed by colleagues from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Avon Fire and Rescue Service.
At its height, the fire service said, 31 fire engines and more than 100 firefighters were at the scene.
Water is directed across the blackened, fire-damaged interior of the mill, showing the scale of the structure crews faced. Image: Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue ServiceThe building involved was a vast industrial structure measuring around 1,200 metres by 200 metres, used as a cold mill and pickle line, the service said.
Crews used four main jets, three ground monitors, thermal imaging cameras, breathing apparatus, three turntable ladders, a high-volume pump and a drone to bring the fire under control and monitor the scene.
At one stage, crews had to switch to defensive firefighting — tackling the blaze from a distance — because of concerns about the structure of the building.
It was a genuine multi-agency effort, with South Wales Police, the ambulance service, the Urban Search and Rescue Team, the Hazardous Area Response Team, Public Health Wales and Natural Resources Wales all involved.
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Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Craig Flannery said crews had dealt with “a highly challenging industrial fire involving extensive infrastructure and hazardous materials.”
He said the scale of the incident, and the need to switch to defensive firefighting because of structural concerns, had “demonstrated the very highest standards of operational professionalism, decision-making, and discipline.”
Mr Flannery said: “Since Wednesday evening, we have responded to several significant and complex incidents, most notably the major fire at the Tata Steel site in Port Talbot and a further large-scale industrial fire at Neath Abbey Wharf. These incidents have required substantial resources, careful coordination, and prolonged operational commitment.”
He added: “I would like to extend my thanks to our operational crews and Joint Control Room operators for their professionalism and dedication. I would also like to recognise the strength of our partnership working, particularly the support provided by colleagues from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Avon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.”
His thanks came at the end of a punishing few days for the service, which was also fighting a separate large-scale fire at a recycling centre in Skewen on the Thursday.
What it means for the steelworks
As crews stood down, Tata Steel set out the impact of the fire on its operations and its plans to recover.
The company said the fire had been at its Pickle Line, and that its Hot Strip Mill had been temporarily taken offline during the incident.
Teams are now working towards a planned restart of the Hot Strip Mill in the middle of next week, Tata said.
In the meantime, the company said its supply chain teams were putting mitigation plans in place — including alternative processing at its Llanwern cold mill and pickle line — to maintain supply to customers.
A full assessment of the affected area is now under way, Tata added, saying its priority remained the safety of its staff and the stable operation of the site.
The company thanked its employees and the emergency services for their swift response.
A turbulent few days
The fire capped a dramatic period for the Port Talbot works. It broke out on Wednesday evening, when more than 100 firefighters from across Wales and the West of England were scrambled to the site overnight.
By the Thursday, part of the building had collapsed, with the union Unite warning of substantial damage to a vital production line and calling for jobs to be protected.
That evening, Tata said the fire had been restricted to a “confined area” of the Cold Mill, while crews continued to hold the scene.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth was among those to pay tribute to the emergency services during the response, thanking them for ensuring no one was harmed.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
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Tata says blaze restricted to ‘confined area’ of Cold Mill
The company’s update as crews continued to hold the scene on the Thursday evening.
Fire burns into a second day as part of the building collapses
Unite warned of substantial damage and called for jobs to be protected.
Over 100 firefighters tackle massive fire at Port Talbot steelworks
How the blaze broke out and the scale of the overnight response.
Crews tackle huge recycling centre fire at Neath Abbey Wharf
The separate large-scale fire the service fought on the Thursday.
