Fire crews called to 'controlled burning' at Port of Sunderland

Two engines from Sunderland Central Fire Station attended the Port following reports of a blaze on Thursday, which was discovered on arrival to be a controlled burn.

A spokeswoman for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service told the Echo that its firefighters attended to extinguish the blaze, which involved seven tonnes of waste.

A spokesperson for the Port of Sunderland confirmed that there had been a controlled burn at the site, something they say is relatively commonplace on the estate.

They added: “Projects of this nature are authorised and usually TWFRS are notified in advance – though this is not something Port of Sunderland is obliged to do.

“Thursday’s burn was authorised, and reported as a controlled blaze when the fire department contacted port personnel to confirm this was the case.”

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