Fire chiefs tackling the huge blaze at a scrap metal plant at Avonmouth in Bristol have warned it could well be burning for days.
The scale of the job was outlined by Station Manager Neil Stradling, who said tht the fire would be burning for at least the rest of Monday and into Tuesday, and could be a number of days before it is out completely.
Fire crews were called on Sunday night to reports of a small fire within the huge pile of scrap metal at the Sims Metal Management premises, which is within the Bristol Port area at Avonmouth.
Local residents said they saw smoke and flames there from 10pm, and fire crews said they arrived at around 10.30pm on Sunday evening.
By Monday morning, the scale of the fire - and the plume of smoke - became apparent, with it visible from Wales, and affecting air quality as far away as Thornbury and Yate as well as right across north and west Bristol.
People have been advised to stay indoors, and keep doors and windows shut, and that advice could be in place well into this week, according to Avon Fire and Rescue Service.
"We've got a very big pile of metal here, and it's roughly 20,000 tonnes. It's all been cleaned, we've been informed," said Mr Stradling.
"The fire is very deep-seated, it's very much in the centre of the pile. A lot of work is required to dig it out to actually get to it and get the fire out," he added.
"The duration is unknown, it's something we can't really tell.
"It's very deep-seated, so until we're able to actually access the centre of the fire, and get water onto the fire at that location, it's impossible to tell.
"But it is going to be some considerable time, it could be days before we are able to say that the fire is out," he added.
