A FIREFIGHTING operation was launched at the waste-to-energy plant at Baldovie in Dundee last night after an explosion in a milling machine.

Fire crews were called out soon after 6 pm when a blaze was reported in one of the hammer mills, where incoming waste is pulverised and turned into fuel for power generation.

The explosion was caused by a gas bottle that found its way into the waste, but management said last night that recently improved safety systems had quickly dealt with the subsequent fire.

The plant sustained only “minor damage,” according to the operators, and continues to operate as normal.

Station Officer Kenny Higgins from the fire and rescue service’s Kingsway station said that gaining access to the machinery had caused problems for firefighters.

“Three water tenders, an aerial ladder and the breathing support unit were all in attendance,” he said. “There was some damage to the machinery and the explosion appears to have caused some structural damage.

“There were some complications in gaining access to the machinery but once we had solved them we were able to tackle the blaze.”

The incinerator is run by Dundee Energy Recycling Ltd., a joint venture between the city council and private sector partners.

A spokesman for the company said last night, “A small fire broke out in a hammer mill at the Baldovie waste-to-energy plant. It was quickly brought under control when the plant’s recently upgraded safety systems were successfully triggered. There were no injuries.

“A gas bottle in the waste stream exploded and caused the fire in the hammer mill, which is designed to withstand such an incident.

“The plant’s fire deluge system was recently extended in that area of the complex and the safety procedures in place ensured that the incident was brought under control with no danger to staff.”

Last night’s incident was not the first in a blast-proof hammer mill at the plant. A similar incident last March was attributed to a build-up of material within the machine.

A string of fires was partly responsible for the city council having to lend the operator of the then troubled plant £2.3 million in 2004 to ensure its survival.