FOOTAGE shows firefighters tackling a blaze involving a 30-tonne mining machine at a Portland quarry – sending plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen for miles around.

Firefighters battled the blaze at the Inmosthay Quarry site, based off Easton Lane, from 2.44pm on Monday (September 28).

Three fire engines - two from Weymouth Fire Station and one from Portland Fire Station - were called to the scene and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus got the flames under control within an hour.

The site is owned by Albion Stone but is used by G Crook And Sons to mine the stone in the quarry.

The video, which can be seen above, shows two firefighters armed with water hoses attempting to extinguish the huge fire. 

Dorset Echo: Firefighters were at the Portland quarry for nearly an hour to tackle the blaze (CREDIT: Tracey Davies)Firefighters were at the Portland quarry for nearly an hour to tackle the blaze (CREDIT: Tracey Davies)

Tracey Davies was walking past the site at approximately 2.55pm on Monday afternoon when she saw the fire overwhelm the machinery with thick black smoke issuing into the air.

She said: "I was walking a neighbour's dog and could see a huge plume of smoke ahead, turned the corner and saw the machinery well ablaze with workers stood far back.

"I then saw the first fire engine arrived followed by another two.

"I thought it was just a bonfire and was shocked to see the G Crook & Son machinery on fire and hoped no one was hurt."

Residents in Wyke Regis and Chickerell areas of Weymouth spoke of seeing plumes of 'thick black smoke' as fire crews tackled the blaze.

A spokeswoman for Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said a 30-tonne screener - machinery used to help sort mined stone - was severely damaged by the blaze.

Dorset Echo:

She said: "We were called to a quarry site at Inmosthay, Portland at 2.44pm for a fire involving a 30-tonne screener.

"Three crews attended, one from Portland and two from Weymouth, and two breathing apparatus wearers have used four hose reel jets to extinguish."

She added that the blaze started accidentally in the machine's engine bay and that no one was injured in the incident.

Witnesses in the area have described firefighters 'racing' to the scene to extinguish the flames.