The effect of fires on the environment has been increasingly in the public eye since the chemical warehouse accident in the Sandoz facility in Schweizerhalle in November 1986. This paper presents a discussion of this accident together with a representative sample of other environmentally important case studies related to fires. Modes of interaction with the environment and potential transfer mechanisms are discussed. The impact of fire effluents in both the short and long terms and activities on the quantification of the environmental effect of fires are also presented. Some of the current environmental debates that are interacting with fire prevention and fire firefighting techniques are also discussed, outlining challenging remaining issues. Finally, insight on international action in response to these incidents and related standardisation activities under progress is presented