Kilburn fire: Blaze at plastics recycling factory causes $1 million damage

Seventy firefighters tackled a huge fire that caused more than $1 million damage to an Adelaide recycling factory overnight.

Toxic plumes of black smoke billow across the northern suburbs. Picture: Georgia Westgarth/Nine News Adelaide

Toxic smoke spewed across Adelaide’s northern suburbs from a fire that caused an estimated $1m damage to a plastics recycling factory at Kilburn overnight.

More than 70 MFS firefighters with 18 appliances contained the fire, which erupted in the Recycling Plastics Australia factory on Blackburn St, Kilburn.

The fire was reported to MFS just after 7.15pm and fireys arrived to find a 9m tall hopper alight.

Firefighters tackle the blaze at the recycling plastics factory at Kilburn. Picture: Georgia Westgarth/Nine News Adelaide

The blaze at a plastics factory on Blackburn Street, Kilburn, caused about $1 million damage. Picture: Emma Brasier.

Two aerial appliances were used to extinguish a pile of burning plastic.

Nobody was inside the factory at the time.

The MFS had earlier urged people to stay away from the area and for people with breathing problems to remain indoors with their windows closed until the smoke had cleared.

Crews remained on the scene overnight.

The Advertiser reported in March 2019 that Recycling Plastics Australia had announced a $12m plan, including a $3m State Government loan, to reopen its facility.

The company was formerly known as Plastic Granulating Services, which closed in July 2017 citing high electricity costs.

Some 70 MFS fireys tackled the fire at a plastics factory in Kilburn. Picture: Emma Brasier.

Two aerial appliances were used to extinguish a pile of burning plastic. Picture Emma Brasier.

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