A massive blaze erupted today at a waste and recycling facility near Wembley Stadium, following what is believed to have been an explosion. Towering plumes of smoke filled the sky, visible for miles around.
In response, approximately 125 firefighters equipped with 20 fire engines swiftly converged on the Neasden area in north-west London. This came after the emergency services were inundated with over 70 calls to 999, starting just after 11:30 a.m.
Given the significant smoke generated from the 161,400 square foot site, fire officials advised locals to stay indoors with windows and doors shut to safeguard against the hazardous air quality.
Transport for London announced that the fire had forced a suspension of the Metropolitan line, while service on the Jubilee line was halted between Willesden Green and Wembley Park, compounding commuter challenges.
Chiltern Railways also reported that the incident affected all routes heading towards Aylesbury, leading to delays for those traveling between London Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill. Further complications arose from an earlier fire alarm at Marylebone station, adding to the delays.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) crews from Wembley, Park Royal, Willesden and other nearby stations were sent to the scene, but the cause of the fire is not yet known.
The blaze appeared to have broken out at the LondonEnergy Waste Transfer Station on Hannah Close, located next to an Amazon warehouse and near the Wembley Ikea.
The nearby Amazon warehouse, which was not related to the industrial unit involved in the fire next door, was understood to have been evacuated as a precaution.
Smoke in the air near Wembley Stadium in north-west London today after a reported explosion
A London Underground train is pictured as a plume of smoke is seen in the sky this afternoon
Some 125 firefighters and 20 engines raced to the scene of the blaze in the Neasden area
A large plume of smoke is seen in the sky during the fire at the industrial estate this afternoon
Fire crews urged residents to close their doors and windows and ‘remain inside if possible’
Three of the brigade’s 100ft ladders were mobilised to the scene, along with drones, a hose laying unit and a high volume pump to increase the amount of water available.
The LFB described the fire as having broken out at a ‘mixed waste facility’, adding that an ‘industrial unit approximately 100m (300ft) by 150m (500ft) is currently alight’.
Mark, a builder who was in a crane in Cricklewood as he witnessed the blaze, told LBC radio: ‘I saw it start about an hour ago. Black smoke was just unbelievable.
‘Now they’ve got it under control because the smoke has gone a lot less and it’s gone white. So you know that the firefighters have got it under control.
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‘They’ve done really well. If you see the pictures of the black smoke, you think, wow, that’s going to burn forever, but they’ve got it under control now.’
One frightened witness tweeted: ‘Massive fire near Neasden / Wembley. The smoke is scary and due to the wind, it’s getting worse. WTF has happened?!
Another said: ‘Warehouse in Wembley has just erupted into a very, very massive fire. I’ve seen at least seven fire trucks speeding down and three police cars.’
LondonEnergy is a company owned by the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) which is responsible for disposing all waste for eight boroughs in the capital.
People look at the huge plume of smoke in the sky as the fire burns in Neasden this afternoon
A large plume of smoke is seen in the sky during the fire at the industrial estate this afternoon
Smoke is seen in the sky during a fire at an industrial estate on Hannah Close this afternoon
A closed Neasden Station due to the fire today which has disrupted Underground services
The statutory public authority services more than two million residents across Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said on X: ‘London Fire Brigade is responding to a large fire on an industrial estate in Neasden. I’m receiving regular updates.
‘If you live in the area, please follow LFB’s safety advice. My thanks go to our brave firefighters who are tackling the blaze to protect lives and businesses.’
NLWA said: ‘We are currently responding to a fire at our Wembley transfer station and are working closely with the emergency services and relevant authorities.
‘We can confirm that all LondonEnergy employees are safe and there have been no injuries. Our immediate priority is to support the emergency response.’
A spokesman for London Ambulance Service said an incident response officer had been sent to the scene but no patients were being treated.
The next event scheduled at Wembley Stadium is an All Elite Wrestling special this Sunday, followed by Bon Jovi concerts on September 4, 6 and 9.
The incident comes after 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters tackled a fire involving 50 tonnes of household waste stored at a recycling facility in Deptford on August 18.