Huge waste facility fire shuts Tube and train lines

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Huge waste facility fire shuts Tube and train lines

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ByJames W Kelly

London
  • Published

A large fire has broken out at a waste facility close to Wembley Stadium in north-west London, shutting Tube and train lines in the area.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said 125 firefighters were tackling the blaze at an industrial estate on Hannah Close in Neasden, with the smoke plumes visible from miles away in central London.

The LFB was alerted just after 11:30 BST and has deployed 20 fire engines to the scene. Residents have been warned to keep their windows and doors shut because of the huge amount of smoke.

Transport for London (TfL) said the entire Metropolitan line has been suspended as a result, while the Jubilee line has been part shut between Willesden Green and Wembley Park.

Rail services to and from London Marylebone are also being delayed or cancelled due to train lines to Aylesbury being blocked, National Rail said.

An aerial view of a large industrial warehouse unit with smoke billowing from its roof, while a London Fire Brigade turntable ladder directs water onto the building from below.Image source, LFB

Speaking from the scene, LFB Assistant Commissioner Andy Pennick said firefighters were met by a well-developed fire involving a waste transfer facility and immediately requested 20 fire engines.

“This is a protracted incident that will see crews on scene for the remainder of the day as the work to fully extinguish the fire,” he added.

“I’d like to thank our firefighters for their hard work so far at this fire, and our control officers for managing a significant number of calls and coordinating or response.”

A TfL spokesperson said: “We’re continuing to liaise with LFB to make sure we understand what we can operate safely for both our customers and staff.”

The industrial unit on fire measures approximately 100m by 150m (161,400 sq ft), the LFB said.

The facility is run by London Energy, a company owned by the North London Waste Authority, which is responsible for disposing all waste for the boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest.

A spokesperson for the firm 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 London Energy employees are safe and there have been no injuries.”

People gather outside the closed metal shutters of Neasden Station entrance, with one man gesturing towards the station signs while commuters wait on the pavement.Image source, PA Media

The brigade added it had received more than 70 calls reporting the blaze, and its cause is unknown.

BBC News understands that an Amazon delivery facility based in the industrial estate has not been directly impacted by the fire, but staff have been evacuated as precaution.

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