Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the blaze on Gretton Brook Road, Earlstrees Industrial Estate, shortly before 2pm today (10 August 2026).
According to witnesses, a huge explosion was heard, and billowing smoke can be seen coming from the premises.
Crews are currently tackling the fire, while Northamptonshire Police is assisting with road closures and crowd control.
Residents nearby have been advised to close their windows and doors because of a plume of smoke and to avoid the area.
The service has not yet provided details on the cause of the fire or the site involved.
The Gretton Brook Road area has previously been home to recycling operations, including a materials recycling facility.
A significant fire at a recycling site on the road in 2015 saw around 60 firefighters attend.
The latest incident comes during a period of hot and dry weather in Northamptonshire.
The fire service has recently warned of an increased risk of outdoor fires across the county.
UPDATE: As of 7:45am this morning, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that it remains on site, with four fire engines and an aerial appliance at the scene as firefighters continue to try to extinguish the fire.
The blaze has spread from the waste to some shipping containers at a neighbouring commercial site.
The service anticipates that they “will be firefighting for some considerable time today”.
Ongoing concerns over recycling fire epidemic
The incident comes amid continued concern over fires at waste and recycling facilities across the UK and Ireland, with operators and fire services reporting persistent incidents involving mixed waste and recyclable materials.
Over the weekend, a number of other fires broke out at recycling and facilities, including at scrap metal and waste sites in London and Essex.
A fire involving around 4,000 tonnes of scrap metal broke out at a recycling centre in East Tilbury, Essex, on Saturday night (8 August), while a separate blaze at a waste facility in Dagenham saw 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters attend on Sunday (9 August).
Industry bodies including the Environmental Services Association have warned that battery-related fires – particularly those linked to improperly disposed lithium-ion batteries – are now occurring at what they describe as “epidemic levels”.
These very issues will be at the heart of discussion at the Fire and Health & Safety Conference, taking place on 21 October 2026 – find out more here.
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