After five months, huge compost fire at Beenham is to be extinguished

But it may still take three weeks to put the fire out.
The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service announced late on Thursday that it would extinguish the fire which has been smouldering for months at a site, run by the now defunct business Good 2 Grow on land owned by Grundon.
Residents have been complaining since the fire started in November that their lives have been made a misery by the smoke which has infiltrating their homes and causing health concerns.
In this week's Newbury Weekly News, a number of residents said 'enough was enough' and demanded that the authorities take some action.
Following the issue of an abatement notice on Good 2 Grow Recyling Limited, the operator of the site, by West Berkshire Council on Thursday afternoon, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) announced it was working with landowner Grundon, and the Environment Agency, to decide the most effective way to tackle the deep-seated fire.
Subject to agreement, the likely approach is to dismantle the heap using heavy plant and spread the smouldering material on a large open area, where it will then be drenched with water. This will be a joint operation, with Grundon supplying the plant and drivers whilst RBFRS will be using two to three fire appliances and crews, together with an aerial ladder platform, to ensure that any remaining burning material is extinguished.
RBFRS spokeswoman Nicole Targett explained: “Although it poses no risk to life or to property and has been reducing steadily, the smell from the smouldering piles has been extremely unpleasant for local residents affected by the smoke plume.
“Initially, the sheer mass of the piles made it impractical to use straightforward firefighting operations – using jets of water on the piles, even with water suppression techniques, would have resulted in a far worse airborne release of ash and smoke. The volume of material has now reduced to the point where, by moving it and spreading it out, it is possible for firefighters to get to it and douse it thoroughly, thus guaranteeing that the fire is definitely out.
“Once under way, the operation is expected to take around three weeks. This will not include night or weekend working, to minimise the impact on local residents. There will be an unavoidable increase in the amount of smoke and ash released as a result of the work but once it is completed, the fire will be completely extinguished.”