Arnolds Field landfill in Rainham, East London, has earned the nickname "Rainham Volcano" due to its recurring underground fires that ignite every summer and release thick, choking smoke across nearby homes, parks, and schools. The 40-acre site, once a gravel quarry turned illegal dumping ground, contains decades of unregulated waste that smolders beneath the surface, creating hazardous conditions for local residents.
Since 2020, the London Fire Brigade has responded to around 160 fires at the landfill, which produces acrid, toxic smoke that exacerbates respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among residents. Pauline Claridge, who lives near the site and suffers from COPD, describes the odor as unbearable and suffocating, forcing her and others to keep windows shut even in summer heat.
Firefighters face dangerous conditions combating the fires from a distance, as the unstable terrain hides deep smoldering voids and past explosions have endangered their safety. The landfill's owner, Jerry O'Donovan, has expressed intentions to clean and redevelop the land, but the scale of contamination, including hazardous chemicals like lead, asbestos, and carcinogenic compounds found during recent excavations, poses daunting challenges.
Local authorities have struggled to find consensus on responsibility for the cleanup, with the council blaming the landowner and vice versa. Recent legal victories have urged reassessment of the health impacts, but action has been slow, leaving the community trapped in a cycle of pollution and frustration.
As summer heat intensifies the fires, the Rainham volcano remains a persistent environmental and public health threat, emblematic of a broader crisis over illegal dumping and landfill management in urban areas. Residents call for urgent, coordinated intervention to prevent further damage and protect vulnerable populations from ongoing exposure to toxic emissions.