£82,000 spent putting out Derry fire

It cost £82,000 to put out a massive fire at a recycling plant in Derry last year, it has emerged.

The blaze started at the former Brickkiln recycling plant at Electra Road in Campsie at breakfast time on the morning of November 11.

Smoke from the fire could be seen from miles away and, at one stage, up to 45 firefighters were at the scene.

It took the firefighters several days to fully extinguish the blaze (pictured) which broke out in a building where thousands of tonnes of household waste were being stored.

During the height of the fire, local residents were urged to keep their windows closed.

The Minister of Public Safety has now revealed the cost of putting out the fire.

DUP Minister Simon Hamilton, who combines his role in charge of public safety with that of Health Minister, said the Northern Ireland Fire Service estimated the cost of dealing with the fire was £82,000.

Mr Hamilton was responding to a question on the matter in the Northern Ireland Assembly from Green Party MLA Steven Agnew.