Large fire at Brabant artificial turf company

A very large fire broke out at TUF Recycling in Dongen, Noord-Brabant, on Thursday evening. The fire was under control by 10:45 p.m., but actually extinguishing it will take days. Toxic substances were released in the fire, and local residents received an NL Alert advising them to stay out of the smoke, NU.nl reports.

The company, which recycles artificial turf mats, is based at De Schat. The fire brigade responded with large amounts of equipment - 11 fire extinguishers, three access platforms, two large water transport vehicles, and two foam fire engines. They've go the fire down to a smouldering fire, which means it won't spread further, but extinguishing will take a long time yet.

According to Omroep Brabant, TUF Recycling was discredited in the past for violating several laws and environmental laws. The company stored more artificial grass mats than allowed, and illegally transported mats abroad. The municipality imposed multiple penalties on the company in the past. TUF Recycling was a topic of discussion on the city council's agenda for Thursday.

Grote brand Tuf Recycling Dongen onder controle, blussen gaat nog 'aanzienlijke' tijd duren https://t.co/4b851mkf6I pic.twitter.com/MQ0MaYM75q

— Brabants Dagblad (@bdtilburg) October 11, 2018

Zeer grote brand bij TUF Recycling in Dongen, blijf uit de rook! [LIVESTREAM] https://t.co/laKyZbClMB pic.twitter.com/rWHkoNhcJX

— Omroep Brabant (@omroepbrabant) October 11, 2018

#Tuf #kunstgras #recycling #zembla pic.twitter.com/nepGRPTABc

— Roelof Bosma (@Roelof_Bosma) October 11, 2018

#grip3 #Dongen #tufrecycling #datgaatnogweleffeduren @VRMWB de link in het nl alert werkt niet. pic.twitter.com/ABe1RFw2Q5

— Leanne van Tilborg (@lmsdax) October 11, 2018