BY IAN CROUCH
Firefighters are battling a blaze in a large pile of rubbish at the Maitland Tip.
Crews were called to the facility on Mount Vincent Road at East Maitland just after 5.30am on Monday following reports of an orange glow and the strong smell of toxic smoke in the area.
The RFS says a 30 by 30 metre pile of mixed rubbish is on fire and has been burning for several hours.
It was hoped council would provide a front end loader to help break the pile apart, but council staff deemed it too dangerous.
The RFS has requested an aerial appliance from Fire and Rescue to assist.
