POLAND – Major Fire at Polish Waste Facility Prompts Safety Warnings and Investigation

Residents in eastern Poland were urged to keep windows closed and avoid a waste-sorting facility after a massive fire broke out there on Monday, September 1. The Government Security Center issued the alert due to the presence of burning plastics and other hazardous materials. Fire officials said air quality tests would be carried out to ensure no risk to the public. No injuries have been reported.

The blaze spread over 3,000 square meters at its peak before firefighters brought it largely under control by Tuesday afternoon. Despite this progress, roughly 1,000 square meters of the site continued to burn. “Our work will take considerable time, as each pile of burning material must be removed and extinguished,” a fire service spokesperson told Polish Radio, adding that the operation could last several dozen more hours.

Prosecutors have now launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. Fire experts will be involved in the process, which includes gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses. Authorities have noted that some recent large fires in Poland and nearby countries have been linked to Russian activity, though no official connection has yet been made in this case.

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