A large factory fire in South Guildford has sent fireballs and a plume of thick black smoke into the air from an industrial area in Perth's east.
More than 130 firefighters using specialist equipment were sent to battle the blaze yesterday on Hynes Road, near the Great Eastern Highway Bypass.
Department of Fire and Emergency Services Acting Superintendent Matt Folini said the Cleanaway waste management and recycling facility contained pallets of compressed plastic and compressed cardboard blocks destined for recycling.
These materials were fuelling the fire, which was burning at extremely high temperatures.
"The nature of the product is a compressed block, almost like big packs of bricks in large quantities, and unfortunately the fire has really taken hold in that warehouse area," he said.
Smoke and regular fireballs could be seen billowing through the roof of the warehouse, and a steady succession of pops and bangs were heard as materials exploded inside the facility.
Staff were evacuated after the blaze started about 9:00am.
A bus was brought in later to collect employees from a muster point outside the facility.
A number of police, ambulance and other emergency services crews were also on the scene.
The thick plume of dark black smoke could be seen from several kilometres away.
Acting Superintendent Folini said the Department of Environment and Regulation was monitoring air pollution levels and water runoff for any contamination.
He said there were more than 130 firefighters on the scene.
