The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) dispatched eight appliances to tackle a large waste fire at a recycling plant on Teal Farm Way in Washington, Tyne and Wear, on the morning of 26 January 2026. Emergency crews received the alert at 07:13 and worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby businesses on the Pattinson Industrial Estate.
The fire was contained by about 10:45 and no injuries have been reported to staff or emergency responders. The fire service advised residents in the Teal Farm area to keep windows and doors closed as a precaution because of heavy smoke.
Several roads were closed to allow emergency vehicles to reach the site. The fire service and police urged drivers to avoid the area around Pattinson Road and Teal Farm Way as crews expected to remain on scene through the evening to damp down and monitor air quality.
A Remondis UK spokesperson said the company is working with the fire service to determine the cause. Officials have not yet confirmed the cause; previous incidents at waste sites are frequently linked to lithium-ion batteries or spontaneous heat build-up in compacted materials.
The Pattinson Industrial Estate has seen similar incidents before, including a major fire at the Remondis recycling centre in March 2022. Local crews remained on-site to monitor for any potential re-ignition.
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