Huge fire at British recycling plant More than 200 firefighters were on Monday battling a major blaze at a British recycling plant after 100,000 tonnes of paper and plastic caught fire, sending a plume of smoke rising into the sky which could be seen for miles around. West Midlands Fire Service said ten officers suffered minor injuries as they fought to put out the flames at the plant in Smethwick, just outside Britain's second city Birmingham in central England. Images.