Fire at Smurfit Westrock’s Townsend Hook mill

Paper Recycling | 2026-08-11 12:35:40

The company declined to comment further on whether recovered paper stocks had been destroyed, whether operations at the depot had resumed or whether the incident was affecting paper production at the mill.

By Paul Ploumis

Fire at Smurfit Westrock’s Townsend Hook mill

Summary

The fire hit a recovered fibre depot, not confirmed to have affected the mill's paper-production line itself.
Townsend Hook's 250,000 tpy machine underscores its role as a UK regional recycled containerboard supplier.
With no company comment on stock damage or depot status, near-term recovered fibre intake capacity at the site remains uncertain for suppliers.
No timeline has been given for resumption of normal depot operations.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service's formal response confirms the incident required an organized emergency intervention, though scale/cause were not detailed.

Fire Breaks Out at Smurfit Westrock's Townsend Hook Paper Mill in Kent, UK

A fire at the recovered fibre depot of Smurfit Westrock's Townsend Hook mill in Snodland, Kent, was brought under control Monday morning with no injuries reported, though the company has not disclosed the extent of any damage or the status of depot operations.

What Readers Should Know

A fire broke out around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, August 10, at the recovered fibre depot of Smurfit Westrock's Townsend Hook paper mill in Snodland, Kent.
No injuries were reported; the situation was brought under control by emergency services and mill staff.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service confirmed a fire at industrial premises on Mill Street, Snodland.
Smurfit Westrock has not said whether recovered paper stocks were destroyed or whether depot operations have resumed.
The mill's paper machine has a design capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year of recycled containerboard.

What Happened at the Townsend Hook Depot

MONTREAL (Scrap Monster): A fire broke out at the recovered fibre depot at Smurfit Westrock's Townsend Hook paper mill in Snodland, Kent, at around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, August 10.

Smurfit Westrock said there were no injuries and that the situation was under control following a response from emergency services and mill staff.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service had earlier reported a fire at industrial premises on Mill Street, Snodland.

What Smurfit Westrock Has — and Hasn't — Confirmed

The company declined to comment further on whether recovered paper stocks had been destroyed, whether operations at the depot had resumed, or whether the incident was affecting paper production at the mill.

Why the Mill's Capacity Matters

The paper machine at the mill has a design capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year of recycled containerboard, making Townsend Hook a meaningful supply point in the UK's recovered fibre and containerboard chain.

What Happens Next

No further updates on the depot's operational status, stock losses, or production impact had been provided by Smurfit Westrock at the time of reporting.

People Also Ask

Where did the fire occur?

At the recovered fibre depot of Smurfit Westrock's Townsend Hook paper mill in Snodland, Kent.

Were there any injuries?

No injuries were reported, according to Smurfit Westrock.

Has the cause of the fire been confirmed?

Neither Smurfit Westrock nor Kent Fire and Rescue Service has stated a cause.

What is the production capacity of the Townsend Hook paper machine?

It has a design capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year of recycled containerboard.

Has Smurfit Westrock confirmed the fire's impact on paper production?

No. The company declined to comment on whether the incident affected production or depot operations.

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