Fire at FCC Environment waste site, Sutton Courtenay

Background 

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire of green waste at the FCC Environment composting site in Sutton Courtenay during the week commencing 14 September.

Following an assessment of the incident by emergency responders and partner agencies, it was agreed that a controlled burn with the smouldering material being regularly doused with water represented the safest and most appropriate way to manage the fire due to the size, location and nature of the material involved.

Throughout the incident, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Environment Agency worked closely with FCC Environment and continued to monitor the situation, assess any potential risks, and ensure appropriate control measures remained in place.

Current situation 

Environment Agency officers visited the site this morning, and have confirmed that the fire has now been successfully extinguished. FCC Environmental have been instructed to clear remaining burnt material from the site.

The Environment Agency will continue to investigate the cause of the fire, whether any of the site’s operating permit conditions have been breached, and if so, what remedial and potential enforcement actions should be taken to ensure compliance.

We recognise the impact that this incident has had on local residents. We would like to thank the community for its patience and understanding throughout.