FIREFIGHTERS from across mid Wales have been praised after they spent more than nine hours tackling a blaze at a council depot near Aberystwyth.

A fire broke out at Ceredigion County Council’s depot on Glan yr Afon industrial estate in Llanbadarn Fawr at around 1.47pm on Tuesday, 4 January.

Crews from Aberystwyth, Aberaeron, Tregaron and as far away as Llanelli and Llandrindod Wells tackled the blaze with four fire appliances, one turntable ladder, an environmental unit and a water bowser deployed to extinguish the fire.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Residents in Aberystwyth reported having brown coloured water coming from their taps as firefighters tackled the blaze.

Mid and West Wales Fire Service said: “The fire involved a single storey building on the council depot site, measuring approximately 45-metres by 15-metres, constructed of concrete and asbestos and was well alight.

“The building housed an internal storage area, various paints and gas canisters.

“During the incident, the immediate area was evacuated, due to airborne contaminants, and local residents were urged to keep their windows closed and to stay indoors until further notice by the police.

“Firefighters extinguished the fire using six breathing apparatus, one water tower, one ground monitor, two main jets, two hose reel jets and a thermal imaging camera.

“The Fire Service remained at the incident to dampen down hot spots and monitor the scene before handing the incident over to the local authority at 11:10pm.”

Station Manager Emyr Jones, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “I’d like to thank our crews who were, initially, confronted with a significant and challenging fire.

“In conjunction with Dyfed Powys Police and Ceredigion County Council, they worked professionally to extinguish the fire and bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

“I’d also like to thank local residents and the public who heeded our advice during the incident and allowed the emergency services to carry out their duties without disruption.”

A spokesperson for Ceredigion County Council said: “Investigations into the cause of the fire are continuing and a cause has not been confirmed at this stage.

“The fire was contained to a small area within the depot storage facility, and whilst there is damage to one section of the building, this area has been secured and there has been no impact on the delivery of council services.”