Police have arrested a man on suspicion of arson following a fire on south London’s well-known Electric Avenue.
Some 70 firefighters were called to a Brixton fire as a large plume of smoke could be seen billowing over a shopping street.
Ten fire engines attended the blaze. which appears to have started in a storage area behind the busy shopping street.
Although the fire in the storage unit was largely extinguished on Monday morning; the fire spread to a building and firefighters continue to work to extinguish this part of the fire.
The Metropolitan Police have since arrested a man in his 40s in connection with the incident and he remains in police custody.
Brixton tube station was temporarily closed as a result of the fire.
Met Police officers attended the scene, preventing people from accessing the street with a line of police tape while the London Fire Brigade worked.
Firefighters could be seen heading in and out of several shops on Electric Avenue, trying to access a back area where the fire started.
A large plume of smoke could be seen rising above the buildings on Monday morning.
By 9.40am on Monday fire crews received about 25 calls alerting firefighters from Brixton, Peckham, Lambeth, West Norwood to the scene.
A fire engine with a long ladder could meanwhile be seen in use on Electric Lane, a small back alley behind the street which hosts Brixton market.
London Fire Brigade closed Brixton Road southbound from Atlantic Road to Coldharbour Lane and Acre Lane as a result of the fire.
People in nearby buildings were evacuated and crews also asked people to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke travel.
No injuries were reported.
London Fire Brigade said the fire was mostly extinguished by midday, but crews reported that some smoke could still be seen billowing out of the doorway of one shop.
Firefighters continue to work to extinguish the fire in #Brixton.
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) July 7, 2025
Closures remain in place in the area.https://t.co/UiCkH8uLCs pic.twitter.com/a4SC8rhiw7
Firefighters continue to work on Electric Avenue and a police cordon remains in place.
However, the cause of the fire is currently unknown and is under investigation by the Brigade and Metropolitan Police.
A spokesperson for The Metropolitan Police said: “Officers are currently supporting the London Fire Brigade following a fire at a building on Electric Avenue, Brixton.
“No injuries have been reported. Surrounding buildings have been evacuated.
“One suspect, a man in his 40s, has been arrested on suspicion of arson. He remains in police custody.
“This fire has caused the temporary closure of Brixton Tube Station, due to its close proximity to the incident. This is being kept under review by the British Transport Police.
“A crime scene has been established and emergency services remain at the scene.”
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