Fire burning at recycling site in east Belfast
PacemakerFirefighters are working to extinguish a blaze at a recycling site in east Belfast.
Flames and plumes of black smoke could be seen emerging from the area in the city's Titanic Quarter on Sunday afternoon.
The fire is at the Clearway metal recycling business in East Twin Road, according to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS).
Police and the fire service are advising motorists to avoid the East Twin Road area and to keep windows and doors shut.
A police cordon is in place at the Airport Road entrance to the harbour estate. Fire crews are still making their way to the scene along the Queen's Road.
Queen's Road has been closed to traffic and pedestrians.
Police said people should seek an alternative route for their journey.
The NIFRS said it is working to extinguish a "large quantity of scrap metal", approximately 50m by 50m, at the recycling site.
A total of nine pumping appliances, an aerial appliance, high volume pump and 60 firefighters were engaged in the firefighting operations.
Crews used a high volume pump to spray water to the fire.
The NIFRS said there have been no reported injuries and all people are accounted for.
By 22:30 BST on Sunday NIFRS said it had scaled back operations but expected to continue through the night.
Fire Service Area Commander David Harbinson said about 75 firefighters were dealing with the blaze at its height.
He told BBC News NI on Sunday evening that he expected NIFRS was going to be at the scene for another number of hours.
"We had approximately 2,500 tonnes of scrap metal went alight, so very difficult conditions," he said.
"Radiated heat from the scrap metal was quite intense but we have arrangements well in place in terms of dealing with this here and our operations are ongoing."
A spokesperson for Belfast Harbour Police said they are working with the police, fire service and Clearway following the outbreak of the fire in the Harbour Estate.
"We would advise local residents in the surrounding area to keep windows and doors closed as a precautionary measure and for people to avoid the area," they added.
