A major fire at Clearway Disposals on East Twin Road in Belfast's dock area has been extinguished after burning for two days. More than 50 firefighters worked through the night following the incident on 2 September 2026, which forced the Viking Sky cruise ship to depart three hours earlier than scheduled. The blaze was brought under control just after midday on 4 September 2026.
Emergency services were called to the recycling facility at 12:14pm on 2 September 2026 after a fire broke out involving approximately 4,500 tonnes of scrap cars and loose metal. According to local reporting, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, though area commander David Harbison suggested that lithium-ion batteries at the recycling facility may have contributed to the incident.
Large plumes of black smoke surrounded the area, visible for miles across the city. The smoke prompted Belfast Harbour to confirm that the Viking Sky's captain and cruise operator made the decision to depart early. Belfast Harbour Police also confirmed that Queen's Road was closed to traffic and pedestrians during the blaze.
How did firefighters tackle the blaze?
The operation involved extensive resources and coordination across multiple agencies. At the peak of the incident, over 50 firefighters supported by other fire service personnel worked alongside Belfast Harbour fire tugs and Sky Watch NI. Five fire appliances initially attended the scene along with a high volume pump, aerial appliance and command support unit, with two high-volume pumps deployed throughout the operation.
Firefighters used heavy onsite machinery to break up parts of the scrap metal, then deployed jets, a ground monitor and a high-reach aerial appliance to extinguish the fire.
"We do require an extensive amount of water to deal with this,"Harbison explained. An NIFRS spokesperson said:
"Firefighters worked tirelessly throughout the duration of the incident to bring the fire under control and prevent further fire spread."
What precautions were put in place?
Nearby residents and businesses were advised to keep their windows and doors closed as a precaution against smoke inhalation. Members of the public were instructed to avoid the area entirely to allow emergency services to continue their work unimpeded.
"If you're driving past in a vehicle maybe turn off your air conditioning units,"Harbison advised.
"Equally, stay away from the area, allow your fire service to continue with their operations and be patient with us while we deal with this."
What caused the fire?
The NIFRS stated that the cause of the blaze is believed to be accidental. However, Harbison highlighted a growing concern within the fire service.
"It is recognised across the UK and wider across the world that lithium-ion batteries are becoming a challenge for the fire sector so we would suspect that,"he said, suggesting that battery-related materials at the recycling facility may have contributed to the incident.
What is the history of fires at this site?
This was not the first major fire at Clearway Disposals. According to local reporting, this represents the third major fire at the scrapyard. Another significant blaze occurred at the same facility in May 2026, when approximately 60 firefighters tackled a large scrap metal fire involving a pile measuring approximately 50 metres by 50 metres. A further major incident occurred at the same Belfast Harbour recycling centre in 2021, when more than 50 firefighters, eleven fire engines and a fire tug were deployed.
Belfast Harbour Police confirmed they were working closely with NIFRS and staff at the facility to manage the incident and coordinate the emergency response.
What happens next?
Following the latest blaze, local reporting has called for an investigation into the site's repeated fire history, indicating pressure for scrutiny of the facility's operations and safety measures.
Key Facts
- The fire at Clearway Disposals on East Twin Road burned for two days, from 2 September to 4 September 2026
- Over 50 firefighters worked at the peak of the incident, supported by multiple fire service personnel and external agencies
- The facility contained approximately 4,500 tonnes of scrap cars and loose metal
- This was the third major fire at the same scrapyard in recent years
- The Viking Sky cruise ship departed Belfast three hours early due to smoke from the blaze
