Tyre fire at Gascoigne Wood recycling plant in Sherburn-in-Elmet

7.30pm - Following reports of ash being found on cars near the fire, Public Health England have confirmed that the material can be cleaned up safely.

They have also advised anyone with existing health problems to contact their GP if their condition worsens after coming into contact with the smoke.

A spokesperson for Public Health England said: "Smoke consists of a mixture of gases, liquid droplets and solid particles representing the decomposition and combustion products from fires.

“Any smoke can be an irritant and as such, if people need to be outdoors, they are advised to avoid or limit the time spent in areas affected by any smoke or ash. Chemicals in the smoke can worsen existing respiratory problems like asthma. People with asthma or respiratory conditions should carry their inhalers and keep any medication to hand and phone your GP or NHS 111 for advice if your health condition worsens.

"Near to the fire, there is a risk of material being deposited, such as a light coating visible on cars or garden furniture – and we recommend that this can be washed away safely.”

North Yorkshire County Council are advising parents that schools are operating normally tomorrow unless they hear differently.

Schools are expected to follow public health precautions and keep pupils and staff away from the smoke but they will open as usual. 

5.55pm - Fire crews have confirmed they will remain at the site overnight, and monitors will be put in place to protect nearby buildings. Residents are still advised to remain indoors with windows and doors closed.

5.25pm - A pilot from the Advanced Flight Training School based at Sherburn Aero Club sent in this fresh picture of the blaze from above.

4.23pm - More video footage of the fire has been captured, this time from a helicopter for a TV news crew. View it here.

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4.12pm - Fire chiefs have said up to 15,000 tonnes of tyres may be ablaze. According to one industry expert, that could equate to as many as 1.8 million tyres, given a typical rate of 120 car tyres to the tonne.

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4.05pm - A Public Health England spokesman said: "So far there have been no reports of any people experiencing ill effects from this fire. However, sheltering indoors provides protection from exposure to smoke, so we advise residents in areas affected by smoke from the fire to stay indoors and limit any exposure to smoke."

He also advised any motorists travelling past the site to close the air vents and windows, and to switch off their air conditioning until they were clear of the smoke.

3.50pm - The huge fire is visible from space, it has emerged. A satellite has captured this image. The grey plume to the right of the picture is the blaze near Sherburn in Elmet. Pic credit: Nasa.

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3.25pm - A spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed they are at the scene of the fire, and monitoring the situation.

He said: “We have environment management officers on site and we are in contact with our National Air Quality Modelling Team for information and advice. The plume is estimated to be up to approximately 1,000 feet high.

“Our officers are ensuring that the run-off from the site is contained and that the local watercourse has not been affected. It is unlikely that there will be any impact on groundwater  and there are no drinking water abstractions downstream of the site."

He also advised any residents who can smell the smoke to stay inside, and close all windows and doors.

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2.55pm - This picture from airfield manager David Salt shows the current conditions at Sherburn Aero Club.

2.45pm - North Yorkshire Fire Service now say the incident "has now developed further", and "there could be up to 15,000 tonnes" of tyres involved. The fire service is working with the Environment Agency and North Yorkshire Police at the scene.

2.35pm - The fire service said the fire will burn for days and could smoulder for weeks. 

2.13pm - More dramatic photographs are coming in from the scene. These ones were taken by Paul Doherty:

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2pm - These pictures from Graham Breeze show a helicopter flying close to the plume of smoke caused by the fire, as well as the fire itself.

1.15pm - North Yorkshire County Council has contacted the schools below to advise pupils and staff should be kept indoors as a result of the fire, until further notice.

There will be further advice to schools as the day goes on. More schools and children’s centres may be contacted depending on the wind direction.

Monk Fryston Cof E VC  Primary School

Hambleton CoE VC Primary School

Barkston Ash RC Primary School

Thorpe Willoughby CP School

Kirk Fenton Parochial Primary School at Church Fenton

Fairburn CP School

Brotherton & Byram CP School

South Milford CP School

Burton Salmon CP School

Sherburn High School

Sherburn Hungate Community Primary School

Saxton C of E School.

Sherburn in Elmet Childrens Centre

1pm - This picture, from Ben Rawson in Barkston Ash, shows just how far the smoke is drifting from the fire. Residents in Acomb, Haxby and Wigginton have reported being able to smell the smoke.

12.45pm - This picture, courtesy of a pilot from the Advance Flight Training School, shows the fire from above. The smoke is believed to reach about 5,000 feet, and has drifted about 25 miles to the north.

12.25pm - A spokesman for the Advance Flight Training School, based at Sherburn Airfield, which shares a boundary with the tyre recycling plant, said flights were still taking place throughout the day. He had flown close to the smoke in a Piper Cherokee at about 9am.

He said: "It's very thick and smoky, and I can tell you from first hand experience it goes up to 5,000 feet and stretches about 25 miles to the north.

"We have a full day of flights booked and we're still going up. We had about 10 this morning, about the same this afternoon. We're not allowing student pilots to go up, in case the wind changes direction. If it blows across the airfield, we would have to ground everything."

The pilot said North Yorkshire Fire Service had told the club the fire may take days to extinguish.

12.14pm - This picture has been posted on twitter by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. They are also being helped by colleagues from West Yorkshire.

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12.12pm - North Yorkshire County Council have told schools in the Sherburn area to keep staff and pupils indoors, with doors and windows closed.

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12.06pm: This image was sent in by Clare Scott, who reported hearing an explosion coming from the site at about 11.40am.

Fourteen crews from across North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire are at the plant, in Sherburn-in-Elmet, following an initial call at about 8.40am.

A Fire Service spokesman originally said the blaze was made up of about 200 tonnes of tyres, but in the last few minutes said the fire had now spread to about 1,000 tonnes of tyres.

A spokeswoman for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service said they were called to the scene at about 9.50am, but nobody had been taken to hospital. 

She said a clinical supervisor and a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) officer had been sent to the scene, as a precautionary measure.

Joanne Ellerton, near the scene, said: "You cannot see across the road because of the thick smoke, and four or five fire engines from different areas have just gone past."

This picture was sent in by Adam Jones: 

This picture was taken by a local resident: 

This picture was taken by James Maxton, from an East Coast train:

Mel Jones lives in Bar Lane, Hambleton, about a mile and a half from the site, and sent in this picture:

Mr Jones said: "It's right on the Gascgoine Wood site, where the old coal mine was. 

"There's a huge pile of tyres and black smoke rising, covering miles and miles. I have seen a few fires in my time, but never seen anything like this."

This picture was sent in by Kris Bell, who lives in Burton Salmon: 

This image was sent in by Liv Thornton: 

One man, who did not wish to be named, saw the smoke from the fire while driving on the M62.

He said: "It's colouring the sky black.

"It's just really thick black smoke, I reckon it's going up for about a mile or so, I would be surprised if you couldn't see it from York."

This image was taken by Adam Wright:

This picture was sent in by Steve Davies:

This picture was taken by Twitter user @stevemy:

Residents have been advised to stay inside if possible, and keep their doors and windows closed until the fire has been put out.

These pictures were taken by David Salt:

The fire is just south-east of Sherburn-in-Elmet, near the aerodrome and Bishopdyke Road:

More to follow...