Exide says public not exposed to emissions

Firefighters responded to a fire at the lead-acid smelting facility in Petone on Saturday. File photo / Bradley Ambrose

Battery recycler Exide Technologies says it is confident the public and the environment have not been exposed to lead emissions following a fire at its Petone plant at the weekend.

Firefighters responded to the fire at the lead-acid smelting facility just after 9pm on Saturday when smoke was seen coming from the roof of the building.

Exide said today said early indications from the Fire Service were that the fire started from an electrical source and moved to the roof of a non-lead processing area in the plant.

The plant was not operating at the time, and the smoke noted by local residents was mostly caused by a combination of burning wooden pallets, plastic wrapping material and roofing materials. The company did not believe there was any threat to the environment.

Exide said the company and the Greater Wellington Regional Council monitored all lead emissions on the plant's boundary fence and surrounding neighbourhood. Latest lab results were expected in 10 days.

- NZPA