Kronospan fire: Chirk school to keep children indoors as blaze runs into third day

Ysgol Y Waun, which has an infants and junior site, will be keeping children indoors after they were advised to do so by Environmental Health/Housing Team and Local Authority Health and Safety Team.

The fire has been burning in the Logyard of the factory since the early hours of Monday morning.

Ysgol Y Waun posted on Twitter on Wednesday morning to say: "We have taken advice from the Environmental Health/ Housing Team and the Local Authority Health and Safety team regarding the fire that is burning in the Kronospan Log yard.

"The fires, even when extinguished, are expected to continue to produce smoke for up to 4 days.

"The changing wind direction will determine which parts of Chirk are affected.

"As a precaution we have taken the decision to keep pupils indoors today and tomorrow and to review the situation on Friday morning."

Frank Hemmings, chair of governors at the school, said the decision to keep the children in doors has been taken as a precaution.

"Children will be kept indoors at both sites," he said. "I can't think whether or not this has been the case in recent times.

"It's just as a precaution – currently the wind is blowing away from the school, but in case that changes, we want to be sure the children are ok.

"I've been to by the car boot sale site this morning to see if I could get a good view of the factory site, and there's still quite a fire.

"But it is expected to be put out by 2pm today.

"We understand it wasn't an immediate major concern for the children, but we don't want to take the risk especially for some children who may have breathing issues."

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service confirmed on Twitter on Wednesday morning that they were still at the site of the fire.

It said: "Firefighters remain on site at the fire in Kronospan, Chirk.

"Crews are working with staff on site and we expect them to remain on site throughout the day."