Govind Tekale
A large fire engulfed a mixed-waste facility in Neasden, northwest London, on Friday, disrupting several transit lines and prompting residents to keep windows and doors shut as smoke spread across the city.
The London Fire Brigade was called just after 11:30 BST to the facility on Hannah Close, near Wembley Stadium. More than 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines attended.
The building, about 100 meters by 150 meters, or 161,400 square feet, was fully alight when crews arrived. The brigade deployed three of its 32-meter ladder trucks, a drone team, a high-volume pump, and a hose-laying unit to bring more water to the scene.
“This is a protracted incident with crews expected to remain on scene for the remainder of the day,” said Assistant Commissioner Andy Pennick of the London Fire Brigade.
Smoke from the fire was visible across central London. Authorities asked residents to keep windows and doors closed. The fire service advised people nearby to monitor air quality and to stay away from the area while crews worked.
The fire caused major disruption to London transport. The Metropolitan line was mostly suspended. The Jubilee line was partly shut between Willesden Green and Wembley Park. National Rail services on the Aylesbury lines to and from London Marylebone faced delays and cancellations.
The incident happened days before AEW All In 2026, a major wrestling event scheduled at Wembley Stadium. The venue lies less than a mile from the fire site.
The brigade did not immediately state the cause. Crews stayed at the site through the afternoon, continuing to contain and extinguish the fire. The London Fire Brigade said updates would follow as the incident developed. Residents nearby were advised to monitor air quality and avoid the area. Industrial fires have prompted public-health warnings before, as seen when a tyre fire forced dozens of firefighters to respond to toxic smoke, and when recalled mattresses failed fire-safety tests.
