A fire occurred at a waste and recycling centre near Wembley Stadium on August 28, 2026, following an apparent explosion. The incident prompted approximately 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines to respond after over 90 emergency calls were made to 999 shortly after 11:30 AM. Fire crews advised local residents to close their doors and windows and to remain indoors due to the significant smoke from the 161,400 square foot facility.
Transport for London reported that the Metropolitan line was suspended, and the Jubilee line experienced service disruptions between Willesden Green and Wembley Park. Chiltern Railways also indicated delays on lines towards Aylesbury, affecting travel between London Marylebone and Harrow-on-the-Hill.
The fire broke out at the LondonEnergy Waste Transfer Station on Hannah Close, adjacent to an Amazon warehouse, which was evacuated as a precaution. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) deployed crews from Wembley, Park Royal, Willesden, and other nearby stations. The LFB described the facility as a mixed waste site, with an industrial unit measuring approximately 100 meters by 150 meters currently ablaze.
Witnesses reported seeing large plumes of black smoke, with one builder stating that the smoke had diminished and turned white, indicating that firefighters were gaining control of the situation.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan provided updates on social media, urging residents to follow safety advice from the LFB. The North London Waste Authority (NLWA), which owns LondonEnergy, confirmed that all employees were safe and there were no reported injuries.
LFB Assistant Commissioner Andy Pennick stated that the brigade was called at 11:36 AM and that the fire was significant enough to warrant the mobilization of 20 fire engines. He noted that the incident would require ongoing efforts throughout the day to fully extinguish the fire.
The next scheduled event at Wembley Stadium is an All Elite Wrestling special on Sunday, followed by Bon Jovi concerts on September 4, 6, and 9. This incident follows a previous fire at a recycling facility in Deptford on August 18, which involved 50 tonnes of household waste.