Fire crews tackle major blaze at Aberdeenshire landfill site
Published on 08/01/2026 at 21:57 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
Emergency response teams are attending a significant fire at the Stoneyhill Quarry landfill site near Peterhead, with local road closures in place and the public urged to avoid the area.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service dispatched six fire engines and two specialist resources to the scene in Longhaven after receiving reports of the blaze around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Five fire officers were also reported at the site to coordinate the response. Drone footage from the area showed thick black smoke and flames rising from a building within the quarry grounds.
Police Scotland has closed the roads between Auchiries and Cairn Catto to manage the situation and ensure public safety. Local authorities have urged residents and drivers to stay away from the vicinity while the incident remains ongoing.
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Second major blaze in days
The Peterhead fire follows a similar large-scale emergency at a recycling hub in Cumbria. On Friday evening, approximately 60 firefighters and 10 fire engines were deployed to tackle a blaze at Sinkfall Skip Hire and Recycling in Barrow.
The Barrow incident, reported shortly before 10:00 p.m. on Friday, required the use of water bowsers and a turntable ladder to control the flames. While no injuries were reported, the fire caused significant disruption, with Park Road closed between the Abbey Road roundabout and the Dalton bypass. Authorities expected the road to remain closed through Saturday afternoon as crews continued to manage the site. The cause of the Cumbria fire has not yet been determined.
Heightened regulatory scrutiny
The recent spate of fires at waste and recycling centres coincides with a period of increased enforcement by environmental regulators. In late July, the Environment Agency launched an investigation following a major fire at an illegal waste site in Rochdale. Six fire engines were required to extinguish that blaze, and residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the environmental impact.
The industry has also seen recent legal consequences for waste management failures. Earlier this week, two farmers were fined nearly £7,000 following an Environment Agency prosecution related to an illegal waste fire near Market Rasen. One individual was ordered to pay a total of £3,990.55 in fines and costs, while another received a conditional discharge with costs exceeding £2,700.
Dry conditions heighten risk
Fire services across the UK have been on high alert due to dry conditions. Recent reports indicate that more than 20 fire services have been responding to various blazes amid drought conditions, including a wildfire at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk that resulted in the loss of significant lowland heath habitat.
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