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.
Twenty fire engines and about 125 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze at a mixed-waste facility on an industrial estate in Neasden, just under a mile from the venue. Huge plumes of smoke could be seen in videos posted on social media, and more than 70 calls were made about the blaze.
Transport disruption
Transport for London said there was no service on the entire Metropolitan line, which runs close to the blaze, and no service between Wembley Park and West Hampstead on the Jubilee line, with severe delays on the rest of the line. Rail services into London Marylebone were also disrupted.
A nearby Amazon warehouse, which is not related to the industrial unit involved, has been evacuated, according to PA Media.
Fire brigade response
The London fire brigade said: “Tube services on the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines will be impacted as crews respond. Rail services into London Marylebone are also disrupted as a result of this fire.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Third major fire this summer
It is the third major fire at a recycling centre in London this summer after two incidents at the Landmann Way Reuse and Recycling Centre in south-east London.
Fires at recycling centres caused by wrongly discarded lithium batteries, such as those found in vapes, are occurring at the rate of more than 10 a week, according to figures from the Environmental Services Association. Battery fires at waste facilities are estimated to cost £1bn a year and are causing growing frustration among fire chiefs.
