Deptford Waste Facility Fire Disrupts London Rail Services as 100 Firefighters Respond

A major fire at a Deptford waste facility on Landmann Way disrupted rail services serving London Bridge after 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters responded.

Major Deptford Fire Causes London Bridge Train Disruptions

A major fire at a waste facility on Landmann Way in Deptford, southeast London, caused significant disruption to railway services serving London Bridge after emergency crews responded to the blaze on August 18, 2026.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that approximately 50 tonnes of household waste were involved in the fire. Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were deployed to tackle the flames.

The incident generated more than 160 emergency calls, with the first received at approximately 7:59 p.m. Crews from Deptford, East Greenwich, Old Kent Road and surrounding stations attended.

Rail Lines Closed as Smoke and Fire Threaten Infrastructure

The fire’s proximity to railway infrastructure forced the temporary closure of nearby rail lines while firefighters worked to control the incident.

National Rail reported cancellations, significant delays and revised services affecting routes between London Bridge and New Cross. Some passengers faced delays of up to 100 minutes.

The disruption affected commuters travelling through southeast London, with railway operators advising passengers to check service updates before setting out.

London Fire Brigade Deploys Specialist Equipment

The scale of the blaze required specialist firefighting equipment. Station Commander Duncan Rees confirmed that firefighters used a 32-metre ladder and a 64-metre ladder as water towers to tackle the flames from above.

The brigade brought the fire under control at approximately 2:16 a.m. on August 19. However, crews remained at the site to extinguish remaining pockets of fire and dampen down the affected area.

The structure of the waste facility was severely damaged.

Residents Receive Smoke Safety Warnings

Because the incident produced substantial amounts of smoke, residents living nearby were advised to keep their windows and doors closed where possible.

People were also encouraged to avoid the immediate area to allow emergency personnel and firefighting vehicles to operate safely.

The cause of the fire had not been established in the London Fire Brigade’s published incident update.

Disclaimer

The incident described in the supplied article matches the major Landmann Way waste facility fire of August 18–19, 2026, not a newly confirmed fire on November 7, 2026. The reported deployment of 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters, the involvement of approximately 50 tonnes of waste, and the railway disruption are supported by official and media reports.

The supplied article’s November 7 publication date should therefore not be presented as the date the fire occurred. The fire was brought under control on August 19, and the available official report does not establish a November 7 recurrence.