Last reviewed: 25 May 2026
TL;DR: A significant fire broke out today at the Daler-Rowney site in Bracknell. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service attended. Residents in the area were advised to close windows and doors. Road closures were in effect around the site. This article covers what is known, guidance for local residents, and the business continuity context.A major fire at the Daler-Rowney manufacturing and storage site in Bracknell is trending across UK search today. Here is what is currently known, guidance for local residents, and the broader context around fires at industrial sites.
What Happened at the Bracknell Fire
The fire broke out at the Daler-Rowney site in Bracknell on 25 May 2026, Bank Holiday Sunday. Daler-Rowney is a long-established British manufacturer of artists materials, paints, and art supplies. The Bracknell site is its primary UK manufacturing and distribution base.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) responded with multiple appliances. The scale of the incident prompted the service to issue public guidance advising residents in the surrounding area to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke. Road closures were put in place around the site while firefighting operations continued.
Public Safety Guidance for Nearby Residents
If you live or work near the Bracknell fire site, the standard advice from fire services and the Environment Agency for industrial fires applies: close all windows and doors, turn off air conditioning and ventilation systems that draw outside air into buildings, and move away from the area if you have respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Smoke from industrial fires can contain particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and - depending on materials involved - a range of combustion products. People in the immediate vicinity should follow RBFRS guidance as updated via their website and social media channels.
If you are experiencing health symptoms you believe are related to smoke exposure, contact NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.
About Daler-Rowney
Daler-Rowney is one of the UK's oldest art materials manufacturers, with roots dating to 1783. The Bracknell facility handles manufacturing of paint, brushes, and related art supplies distributed to retailers across the UK and internationally. The company was acquired by Fila Group, an Italian art and office products conglomerate, in 2015.
Business Interruption: What a Fire Like This Means
For a manufacturing business, a significant fire at a primary production site triggers a range of immediate commercial and insurance processes. Business interruption (BI) insurance is a standard component of commercial property policies and covers loss of income and ongoing fixed costs during a period when a site cannot operate normally.
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) publishes guidance on what businesses should do in the immediate aftermath of a fire: notify your insurer as soon as possible, document all damage with photographs before any clearance, preserve evidence for loss adjusters, and - critically - do not dispose of damaged stock or equipment before the insurer's assessor has attended.
Business interruption claims are among the most complex in commercial insurance. The period of indemnity (the length of time covered) and the mechanism for calculating lost income vary significantly between policies. Industrial sites with specialist plant or equipment may face extended indemnity periods due to the time required to rebuild or replace equipment.
Environmental Considerations
Fires at sites handling paints, solvents, and industrial chemicals are subject to Environment Agency oversight. The EA may require environmental monitoring of watercourses and groundwater in the vicinity, particularly for contamination from firefighting water run-off. The EA's incident reporting line is 0800 80 70 60.
Where is the Bracknell fire?
The fire is at the Daler-Rowney manufacturing and distribution site in Bracknell, Berkshire. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to the incident on 25 May 2026.
Is it safe to be outside near the Bracknell fire?
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service advised residents near the site to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke. People with respiratory conditions should move away from the affected area. Follow RBFRS official channels for the latest guidance.
What is Daler-Rowney?
Daler-Rowney is a British art materials manufacturer founded in 1783. Its Bracknell site is the primary UK manufacturing and distribution facility. The company is owned by Fila Group.
What should a business do after a fire?
Notify your insurer immediately, document all damage before any clearance, preserve evidence for loss adjusters, and do not dispose of damaged stock before an assessor has attended. Business interruption insurance may cover loss of income during the recovery period.
Who do I contact about environmental impact of an industrial fire?
Contact the Environment Agency's incident reporting line on 0800 80 70 60 if you have concerns about contamination of watercourses or land near an industrial fire site.
