Firefighters braved dense smoke in the early hours of this morning to bring under control a blaze at the Tynes Bay waste treatment facility in Devonshire.

The Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service received a call at about 11.54pm, with crews from the Hamilton and Port Royal stations welcomed by thick smoke and a blazing fire inside the tipping hall.

The fire was put under control very quickly but firefighters were exercised by having to deal with severe smoke.

“The smoke layers were so extremely dense that the firefighters went in with breathing apparatus along with three personnel from the Tynes Bay waste treatment facility,” Dana Lovell, of the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, said. “There has been no extension of the fire into the main tipping hall area. We believe it is a minor issue with the waste treatment plant, but no major cause for alarm.”

The fire was restricted to the northern end of the tipping hall, with no danger of it spreading. The plant is expected to return to normal service by first light.