Residents advised not to clean debris from Bracknell fire
The UK Health Security Agency has issued updated guidance on potential health risks
Last updated 29th May 2026
Residents living close to the site of the Daler Rowney fire in Bracknell are being urged not to disturb debris from the incident, following new guidance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The fire broke out on 25 May 2026 at the Daler-Rowney headquarters and manufacturing site on Peacock Lane in Bracknell, prompting a major emergency response involving multiple fire crews and the evacuation of nearby homes as a precaution.
Thick smoke from the blaze spread across parts of Bracknell and surrounding areas, with residents initially advised to keep windows and doors closed while firefighters tackled the industrial fire through the night.
Fire crews confirmed the incident involved a large industrial building, with the site containing manufacturing, warehousing and office operations. Emergency services worked for many hours to bring the fire under control, with a significant presence remaining in the area for follow-up and safety checks.
The UKHSA has now cautioned that debris may pose a low public health risk, as the building’s roof may have contained asbestos cement materials which could have been released in the smoke plume and deposited in nearby gardens and streets.
Despite this, officials stress that exposure risks are likely to be low and that significant long-term health effects from asbestos in fire debris are unlikely, though precautionary clean-up measures are being taken.
Authorities say properties within a 200-metre radius of the smoke plume will be visited on 29 May to assess debris and arrange professional removal where needed.
Residents who find ash or debris are being told not to touch it and to contact the council for safe collection, while also being advised not to report issues via social media.
If removal is unavoidable, UKHSA guidance says debris should be dampened, carefully double-bagged, and disposed of at a waste centre, while avoiding sweeping or vacuuming which could release dust into the air.
Children and pets should be kept away from affected areas until full clean-up work has been completed.