Firefighting operations have concluded at an industrial estate in Nottinghamshire after a “large, on-going” fire broke out in mid-April
On 15 April 2026, firefighters from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services responded to a significant fire at Hathernware Industrial Estate, located in Sutton Bonington. Initially, 13 fire appliances were mobilised, with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) reporting that the blaze involved wooden pallets, lorry trailers, industrial units, cylinders, and tyres.
A considerable smoke plume resulted, leading to part of a nearby railway line being closed and locals being warned to keep doors and windows shut. NFRS also urged residents not to be “alarmed by any loud bangs coming from the incident ground”, which were due to the cylinders being on fire.
While the scale of the emergency response was eventually scaled down, fire crews maintained a continuous response on site to tackle deep-seated fire and hotspots buried within “significant quantities of waste material across the site” and which required the use of specialist machinery.
More than a week after the fire started, NFRS Area Manager Matt Reavill said: “We have now maintained a continuous 24-hour response at this site for nine days. Although most of the fire has been extinguished, there remain significant operational challenges due to deep-seated hotspots, which require the use of heavy plant machinery to access safely.
“Alongside this, we are carefully managing the environmental impact of our operations, particularly due to the railway line running directly adjacent to the site.”
Concerns over the continued presence of smoke and odour in the area led to a drop-in session being arranged for residents of Sutton Bonington to meet with representatives from NFRS, the Environment Agency, UK Health Security Agency, and Rushcliffe Borough Council.
Reavill said: “As well as ongoing firefighting activity, crews and staff from our service will continue to engage with residents, providing reassurance and advice where needed. We fully understand the continued impact this incident is having and remain committed to resolving it as quickly and safely as possible.”
Crews eventually concluded firefighting operations on 25 April, ten days after the fire started, with NFRS confirming that periodic checks would continue to ensure that the area remained safe and that there was no risk of re-ignition.
“The response involved 105 fire appliance attendances, including multiple visits from the same fire stations from across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Services, supported by 13 specialist appliance attendances, demonstrating the scale of the incident,” the service added.
Confirming that an investigation into the cause of the fire was underway, Rushcliffe Borough Council said in an update:
“The Environment Agency is engaging with the site owner and tenants and conducting an investigation. It was handed back to them after fire operations finished on April 25. Planning matters are currently being investigated. It is the responsibility of the tenants to dispose of the waste in accordance with Environment Agency guidance.
“The agencies are aware the incident is the second time a fire has occurred in the last eight years and agencies will continue to monitor the site in line with the investigation.”
(Photograph by Collingham Fire Station/Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service)