Harwich Fire Today: 35 Firefighters Battle Huge Warehouse Blaze as Smoke Seen for Miles

Updated: August 18, 2026

A major warehouse fire in Harwich, Essex, brought around 35 firefighters to Stour Road early on Sunday, August 16, sending a large plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen from miles away.

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service was called at 3:36am on August 16. By 7:20am, the warehouse was fully alight, with crews working in sectors and a water bowser being used to support the firefighting operation.

The incident later moved into a recovery phase. By 10:30am, the fire service confirmed the blaze was under control and resources at the scene could begin to be reduced.

The scale of the fire caused major structural damage, with the main structure of the warehouse completely collapsing during the incident.

Harwich warehouse fire latest update

At 10:30am, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said the fire was under control and crews were able to start reducing resources at the scene.

Fire officials confirmed that the main structure of the building had completely collapsed. Crews continued working with partner agencies and local authorities to bring the incident to a safe conclusion.

Despite the size of the blaze and the visible smoke plume, officials said there was no fire-safety risk to nearby residents.

Residents could still see smoke in the area during the day, but later updates said it was not travelling towards nearby homes.

People can follow the official Essex County Fire & Rescue Service Harwich fire updates for emergency information.

Stour Road reopened as crews cooled hotspots

By 1:50pm on August 16, Stour Road had reopened. Remaining firefighters stayed at the warehouse to cool hotspots and make the site safe before it could be handed back to the owners.

Fire officials also confirmed there was no asbestos risk from the smoke or ash.

This was a significant change from the early stages of the incident, when nearby residents had been advised to keep windows and doors closed because of the volume of smoke.

The fire service said crews had worked extensively to extinguish the blaze and thanked residents and motorists for their patience while the road remained affected.

Firefighting operations stopped at 5pm

At 5pm, Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said active firefighting operations had stopped for the day.

Crews continued monitoring the site overnight and were expected to return the following day to continue their work.

Some smoke could still be visible from the warehouse after firefighting operations stopped, but the service again confirmed that there was no asbestos risk from the smoke or ash.

Smoke seen from Ipswich, Felixstowe and miles away

The size of the smoke plume caused concern well beyond Harwich. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service received multiple calls from people in the Ipswich and Felixstowe area and clarified that the smoke was coming from the Harwich incident rather than another fire in Suffolk.

Eyewitness accounts suggested the plume could be seen from even farther away. One person reported seeing smoke from Lawford, while another travelling on the A12 said it was visible from around 30 miles away.

There were also reports of hot ash falling into nearby gardens during the height of the incident.

Smoke being visible from a long distance does not mean conditions are equally severe everywhere. Wind, distance and the height of the plume can significantly change how smoke affects individual locations. Similar concerns can arise when smoke from fires becomes noticeable far from the source, making official location and safety information particularly important.

What caused the Harwich warehouse fire?

The cause of the Harwich warehouse fire has not yet been publicly confirmed.

Essex County Fire & Rescue Service said an investigation would be carried out once the site was considered safe enough for investigators to begin their work.

There is currently no verified evidence identifying an electrical fault, deliberate ignition, stored materials or any other specific cause.

No confirmed casualty information has been announced in the official incident updates published so far.

Does the warehouse belong to Mercedes-Benz?

Images of the burning warehouse show a faded Mercedes-Benz logo on the exterior, but that alone does not establish that Mercedes-Benz currently owns, occupies or operates the building.

No verified information has confirmed the current owner or tenant, so describing the location as the Stour Road warehouse remains more accurate unless ownership is officially established.

Harwich fire timeline

3:36am: Essex County Fire & Rescue Service was called to the warehouse fire on Stour Road.

Early morning: A large smoke plume became visible around Harwich and across the River Orwell estuary. Nearby residents were initially advised to keep windows and doors closed.

7:20am: Around 35 firefighters were tackling the fully alight warehouse, using a water bowser to support the operation.

10:30am: The fire was declared under control and emergency resources began to be reduced. Officials confirmed the main structure of the warehouse had completely collapsed.

1:50pm: Stour Road reopened. Remaining crews continued cooling hotspots and preparing the site to be handed back to its owners. Officials said smoke was not travelling towards nearby homes and confirmed there was no asbestos risk.

5pm: Firefighting operations stopped for the day. Crews continued monitoring the site overnight and planned to return to continue their work.

The biggest unanswered question is now what caused the fire. An investigation is expected once the damaged site is safe enough to examine.

Residents may continue to notice smoke around the warehouse while recovery work continues, but the latest official information says there is no asbestos risk from the smoke or ash.