Smoke plumes have now cleared and air quality levels are returning to normal levels following a fire in the Plough Lane area.

It is now safe for residents in the areas affected to open windows and doors. This will improve ventilation and indoor air quality.

Due to the direction of the wind and the location of the incident right on our borough boundary, very few Merton residents will have been directly impacted by the smoke plume.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) crews have been working since Saturday to control a recycling plant fire on Weir Rd. The recycling plant is a private business.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were dispatched to tackle the fire. Although it was brought under control within hours of their arrival, it has taken a significant amount of time to fully extinguish.

The LFB are confident that reignition is very unlikely and have left the site, but are still carrying out regular revisits.

More information on the cause of the fire and the operation to extinguish it can be found on the LFB website.

Merton Council officers have been, and continue to be on-site, with partners to monitor the local air quality, and we will issue updates if the advice changes.

Schools

Due to the direction of travel of the smoke plume, no Merton schools have been impacted by this incident.

However, Wandsworth Council closed a number of schools to protect children and staff from poor air quality.

If your child attends a Wandsworth school, you can find their latest updates on the situation on their website.

UK Health Security Agency advice for residents  

People who are generally fit and well are unlikely to experience long-term health problems from temporary, low-level exposure to smoke.

Smoke can irritate the lining of the air passages (nose, throat and lungs), the skin and the eyes. Symptoms may include coughing and wheezing, feeling short of breath, runny nose or eyes, sore throat or chest pain. 

In general, exposure to smoke and dust is more likely to affect people who have existing breathing problems, lung or heart conditions (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, chronic pulmonary disease or heart disease).

The very young and very old, smokers and people with flu or flu-like illnesses may also be at a greater risk after exposure to smoke.

In general terms – residents who need to remain in areas affected by smoke for extended periods of time should stay indoors, keep their doors and windows closed as much as possible and limit the amount of time spent outdoors during day-to-day activities.

People with asthma and other respiratory conditions may be particularly susceptible to the smoke and should carry and use their medication (such as inhalers) as usual.

If you have any concerns about the impact of smoke and dust on your health, please contact the NHS 111 service (which is free from both landlines and mobiles and open 24/7). In an emergency, always call 999.

Article updated at 10am on 12 Sept with latest LFB information