Fire breaks out at Holiday Inn hotel 'housing asylum seekers' amid latest heatwave

By OLIVIA CHRISTIE, NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:31, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 14:59, 14 August 2026 A huge fire has broken out at a Holiday Inn believed to be housing asylum seekers in London.  Videos shared on social media show large plumes of thick black smoke billowing from the building, which is just yards away from Wembley Stadium.  Around 40 firefighters and six fire engines were called to the blaze on Empire Way at 12.34pm today.  The Home Office told the Daily Mail the fire had been 'brought under control' but said it would not comment on individual hotels.  As of August last year, the Holiday Inn was being used to house an unknown number of migrants and it remains 'temporarily closed' to guests.  The cause of the blaze is currently unknown, with the fire service having now launched an investigation.  Asylum seekers living in the Holiday Inn previously likened the conditions there to a 'prison'.  Others complained about the food and said they had waited nearly two years to be found a new home.  A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: 'Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters are responding to a fire at a hotel on Empire Way, Wembley.  A fire has broken out at a Holiday Inn believed to be housing asylum seekers in London  Videos shared on social media show large plumes of thick black smoke billowing from the building on Empire Way in Wembley Around 40 firefighters and six fire engines were called to the blaze at 12.34pm today 'The Brigade received the first of 29 calls reporting the fire at 12.34pm.  'Control officers mobilised crews from Park Royal, Willesden, Northolt and surrounding fire stations to the scene. Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 1.21pm. 'The cause of the fire is under investigation.' The blaze at the hotel in London comes as fire services up and down the country have been stretched by wildfires breaking out amid the latest heatwave. Andy Burnham's Government has now imposed a temporary ban on disposable barbecues. Officials said the items posed 'a significant risk to the public' due to current conditions which yesterday brought Britain's hottest day of the year, at 38.1C. New guidance published this afternoon states: 'During the current drought and heatwave conditions, the government considers that the supply and subsequent foreseeable use of disposable barbecues poses a significant risk to the public, and the environment, and therefore cannot be considered a safe product. 'They should not be made available for supply either in store or online at the current time. 'These guidelines will be kept under review, and will be withdrawn in consultation with relevant departments and agencies, as weather conditions change sufficiently to significantly reduce the risks.' An aerial view of the remains of a home on Brunswick Gate in Stourbridge this morning  Charred land and burnt houses this morning following the huge wildfire in Stourbridge It comes as at least six houses were destroyed on Stourbridge's Brunswick Gate, the town's most expensive street that is lined with large family homes worth at least £1million and sits opposite a golf course. Up to 30 properties in total were damaged as firefighters fought the blaze in the West Midlands, which spread rapidly through dry grass and woodland yesterday afternoon – setting alight homes with residents forced to flee. One evacuated resident said police told her to leave quickly because they 'thought the fire was changing directions' – so it was 'literally grab what you need and get out'. Other witnesses said the flames 'jumped from house to house' while people grabbed what they could. A child and three firefighters were among those taken to hospital. Drone footage from smoke-filled skies over the leafy market town showed the blaze threatening to engulf even more properties on the edge of a badly scorched field. Around 100 firefighters were tackling the inferno which broke out near Stourbridge Golf Course, obliterating 40 acres of land. Golfers are said to have fled in their carts. Residents said ash was 'raining down' amid the 'very strong' smoke. Some of the affected homes were on Brunswick Gate, where one sold for £1.25million in 2024. Other large detached homes sold for £875,000 in 2017 and £900,000 in 2012 on what estate agents have previously dubbed Stourbridge's most expensive road.