Fireward Systems Protect £8.57M Worth of Machinery in First Half of 2026

Between January and June 2026, Fireward's automatic fire suppression systems were called upon to put out 26 fires across a wide range of mobile plant and static machinery, protecting equipment with a combined value of £8.57 million.

The fires occurred across some of the UK's highest-risk working environments, including waste and recycling, landfill, scrap metal, wood waste, ports and steelworks.

These incidents demonstrate the importance of having an effective fire suppression system in place. When a fire starts on high-value machinery, rapid detection and suppression can make the difference between a contained incident and significant damage, downtime and asset loss.

£8.57 Million of Plant and Machinery Protected

The 26 incidents involved a broad range of machinery, from smaller mobile plant through to equipment valued at £700,000.

The machinery involved included material handlers, wheel loaders, shredders, dozers, excavators, landfill compactors, balers, waste compactors, telehandlers and skid steers.

Shredders and material handlers were the most frequently involved asset types, with six fires recorded for each during the first six months of the year. Together, these incidents accounted for £4.39 million of machinery.

The value of the individual assets protected ranged from £65,000 to £700,000, demonstrating that fire presents a significant risk across a wide range of plant and machinery.

For operators relying on expensive equipment every day, a mobile plant fire suppression system provides an important layer of protection against machinery fires.

Waste & Recycling Accounts for Half of the Fires

Waste and recycling was the most prominent industry during the first six months of 2026, accounting for 13 of the 26 fires.

A total of £3.16 million of waste and recycling machinery was protected during these incidents.

This represented £3.16 million of waste and recycling machinery protected during the first six months of the year. The equipment involved included material handlers, loading shovels, shredders, balers, compactors, a telehandler and a skid steer.

Waste and recycling facilities present a particularly challenging fire environment. Machinery operates around combustible materials, dust and waste streams, while equipment such as shredders and material handlers can be exposed to significant heat and mechanical stress.

The incidents across these industries demonstrate the broad range of applications for waste and recycling fire suppression, plant fire suppression and mobile plant fire suppression systems, providing protection directly on the machinery where fires can start.

Landfill Machinery: £2.46 Million Protected

Landfills were another significant area of activity, with five machinery fires put out during the first six months of the year.

Together, these incidents involved equipment worth £2.46 million.

The machinery included dozers, loading shovels and landfill compactors, with individual assets valued at up to £700,000.

Two separate fires involved landfill compactors valued at £700,000 each, highlighting the potential financial impact when a fire occurs on high-value landfill plant.

A landfill fire suppression system can provide protection directly on the machinery operating in these demanding environments, helping to detect and suppress a fire before it causes extensive damage.

Scrap Metal and Wood Processing

Fireward systems also put out fires on machinery operating in scrap metal and wood-related industries.

In the scrap metal industry, three incidents involved material handlers and shredders, protecting a combined £1.2 million of machinery.

Wood-related operations accounted for a further three incidents across wood processing and wood waste, involving shredders worth a combined £1.3 million.

Shredders are particularly important in these figures. Fires involving shredding equipment can develop rapidly, making effective fire detection and suppression particularly important for businesses processing combustible materials.

These incidents demonstrate the range of applications for industrial fire suppression systems, from mobile machinery operating around scrap and waste through to processing equipment used within industrial facilities.

Fire Suppression for Mobile and Static Plant

Fire risk isn't limited to mobile machinery.

Fireward provides automatic fire suppression systems for a wide range of applications, including mobile plant, static plant and industrial machinery operating in demanding environments.

Whether equipment is working in a landfill, processing waste, handling scrap metal, processing wood or operating within an industrial facility, the right plant fire suppression system can provide critical protection where machinery fires pose a serious risk to valuable assets and business operations.

For road-going vehicles, Fireward also provides vehicle fire suppression systems, designed to protect vehicles where fire risk can have serious consequences for both the asset and its operation.

Real Fires. Proven Protection.

The first six months of 2026 provide a clear demonstration of Fireward's experience in real-world fire protection.

26 fires put out. £8.57 million of machinery protected.
Multiple industries.
A wide range of plant and equipment.

Every incident is different, but the objective remains the same: detect a fire quickly and put it out before it has the opportunity to cause extensive damage.

For businesses operating high-value machinery, an automatic fire suppression system provides an additional layer of protection against one of the most costly risks facing plant and equipment.

Fireward, Protecting People and Assets 24/7.

To find out more about Fireward’s Automatic Fire Suppression systems, get in touch by calling 0800 151 0249 or email at: sales@fireward.co.uk