Residents urged to stay indoors as fire breaks out at Dublin waste disposal plant

Residents of a Dublin town have been advised to remain inside and to close their windows.

Dublin Fire Brigade is advising residents in the Balbriggan area of the county to remain indoors following a fire breaking out at a waste disposal plant.

The residents have also been warned to keep their windows closed as firefighters continue to tackle the blaze.

The fire broke out at around 6.30am this morning (Thursday, 28 August), according to reports.

Dublin Fire Brigade confirmed that smoke is drifting across a wide area, but that six engines are at the scene.

#Balbriggan

6️⃣ Six fire engines including a turntable ladder are at a recycling facility fire

💨 Smoke is drifting across a wide area

🪟🚪 Close windows and doors if you are affected pic.twitter.com/KUVZJt9k4V

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) August 28, 2025

A spokesperson for the fire service issued a statement this morning that reads:

"Dublin Fire Brigade would like to advise residents in the Balbriggan area of Dublin to stay indoors and keep their windows closed this morning. 

"At 6.30am this morning, the Fire Brigade was notified that a large fire had broken out at a waste disposal plant in the area.

"Nine units of Dublin Fire Brigade are at the scene."

Fingal County Council also published the following statement:

"In case you've not yet seen or heard, a large fire has broken out at a waste disposal plant in the Balbriggan area, with nine Dublin Fire Brigade units on the scene battling the blaze.

"Residents in the Balbriggan area are advised to stay indoors and keep their windows closed this morning."

In case you've not yet seen or heard, a large fire has broken out at a waste disposal plant in the #Balbriggan area, with 9 @DubFireBrigade units on the scene battling the blaze. Residents in the Balbriggan area are advised to stay indoors and keep their windows closed this… pic.twitter.com/HABrHQ8Zsu

— Fingal County Council (@Fingalcoco) August 28, 2025

Later in the morning, Dublin Fire Brigade issued an update.

It said: "We're making good progress at the recycling centre fire. Smoke is still affecting the locality but has reduced in volume

"Five fire engines and a water tanker remain on scene. We expect firefighting operations to continue for the foreseeable."

#Balbriggan

✅ We're making good progress at the recycling centre fire

💨 Smoke is still affecting the locality but has reduced in volume

5️⃣ Five fire engines and a water tanker remain on scene

🕐 We expect firefighting operations to continue for the foreseeable pic.twitter.com/kH2mDMJiDc

— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) August 28, 2025