Firefighters were called to a recycling center in Southall on Sunday evening to tackle a significant blaze. Eight fire engines and approximately 60 firefighters responded to the fire on Johnson Street, where about 15 tonnes of mixed recycling was alight. The London Fire Brigade was alerted to the incident shortly after 5:30 pm, mobilizing crews from several stations.
The fire caused considerable travel disruption due to thick smoke. As a precaution, the nearby Great Western Main Line was closed, leading to delays and cancellations on services between London Paddington and Reading. The Heathrow Express was also suspended for a period, and disruptions were expected to continue into the evening, with some sources indicating an impact until 11 pm.
By around 8:57 pm, the fire was reported to be under control. However, the resulting smoke continued to cause travel chaos. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.