Firemen battle blaze at UK coal power plant

London - British firemen fought back a large fire at a coal power plant in northern England on Thursday.

A total of 15 fire crews battled the blaze, which sent thick smoke and flames high into the sky over the plant, operated by energy giant SSE.

All workers were evacuated and no one was injured in the blaze, SSE said.

The National Grid said the fire had not affected electricity supply because the plant was shut down for the summer season.

"West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has indicated the fire is now being brought under control", SSE said in a statement.

"Due to planned maintenance neither of the affected units had been operational over the summer and therefore had not been supplying power to the National Grid at the time of today's incident."

SSE said it would investigate the cause of the blaze.