Around 100 firefighters have been scrambled to a blaze at an electrical substation in London.
An electrical transformer at the substation in Maida Vale is alight, along with the roof of a neighbouring residential building, London Fire Brigade said.
Around 80 people have been evacuated from the affected block of flats, while the fire brigade has so far received more than 170 calls alerting them to the blaze on Aberdeen Place.
“This is a very visible fire and producing lots of smoke,” said commander Paul Morgan, as he urged residents to keep their windows and doors shut and avoid the area where possible.
Black smoke and flames were seen erupting in rush hour today near Warwick Avenue station, prompting at least 15 fire engines to be called to the scene, including from Paddington, Euston and surrounding fire stations.
The fire comes just weeks after a fire at an electrical substation in west London knocked out power to Heathrow Airport, causing major disruption for travellers across the globe.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Key Points
- Fire at London substation spreads to residential building
- Around 80 people evacuated from block of flats
- 100 firefighters called to tackle blaze in Maida Vale
- Substation fire comes just weeks after blaze that shut down Heathrow
Elderly and vulnerable residents have been displaced
11:27 , Rebecca WhittakerSteve Pennington, who is part of the Welfare Response Team at Westminster City Council, spoke outside the Wharncliffe Gardens community centre.
He said: “We have got residents that have been displaced and we are trying to help them as best we can.
“We have had a number of residents, some of them elderly, some of them requiring assistance from the local authorities.
“We are here but there’s a lot to do.”
Mother and daughter evacuated from the 'inferno'
11:20 , Rebecca WhittakerA resident evacuated during the fire has described it as “an inferno”.
Alice Bazzi, 36, said her mother Fatima, 71, woke her shortly before 5.30am saying she could smell fire.
Ms Bazzi and her parents, of whom she is the primary carer, live in a block of flats next to the substation on Aberdeen Place in Maida Vale.
Speaking outside the Wharncliffe Gardens Community centre where evacuated residents have gathered, Ms Bazzi said: “I spoke to the police and asked, ‘should we not be evacuating people?’ They said ‘not yet’.
“It’s getting worse, then they’re like ‘No, it’s actually OK’. It’s getting worse – two hours later – until some form of inferno blow-up happened.
“You didn’t hear it but you just saw it, it went ‘phew’,” she added, using her hands to mimic the sudden rising of flames.
“You felt it on your face, I felt the heat.
“That’s why they said our block has now been impacted because where the flames got so high, higher than these trees, the fire then went onto our roof.”
ICYMI: Everything we know about the substation fire
11:10 , Rebecca WhittakerFifteen fire engines and about 100 firefighters were called to the scene of a fire at an electrical substation on Aberdeen Place in Maida Vale.
An electrical transformer remains alight and crews are likely to continue throughout the day, according to the London Fire Brigade.
Part of the roof of a neighbouring residential building was also alight but this is now under control.
Around 80 people have been evacuated from a block of flats.
One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders is being used at the scene to tackle the fire from above.
Emergency services received more than 170 calls alerting them to the blaze at 5.29am.
UK Power Networks confirms the fire has not interrupted power supplies.
Pictured: Firefighters and police at the scene
10:50 , Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: Smoke billows in west London sky
10:40 , Rebecca WhittakerPower supplies and public transport not impacted
10:30 , Rebecca WhittakerThe fire has not interrupted power supplies in the area and nearby trains are operating as usual.
The substation is near Maida Vale and Warwick Avenue tube stations on the Bakerloo line in West London.
Watch: London Fire Brigade extinguish the blaze
10:20 , Rebecca WhittakerLondon Fire Brigade share a video of the fire earlier this morning.
Officers said: “The fire is producing a large amount of smoke and people in the local area are advised to keep doors and windows shut.”
Firefighters are continuing to respond to the substation fire near Aberdeen Place, #MaidaVale.
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 29, 2025
The fire is producing a large amount of smoke and people in the local area are advised to keep doors and windows shut. https://t.co/etxgEK4SLZ
Power supplies have not been interrupted by fire
10:10 , Rebecca WhittakerUK Power Networks have confirmed the fire on Aberdeen Place in Maida Vale has not interrupted power supplies.
A spokesperson said: “UK Power Networks was called to a fire at a substation in St John’s Wood early this morning.
“This has not interrupted power supplies. Our teams are working with the fire service to make the equipment safe.
“This is an isolated incident and customers’ supplies were not impacted.”
Pictured: Fire appears to be significantly reduced
10:00 , Rebecca WhittakerImages from the scene show the fire has reduced significantly.
Pictured: Emergency services remain on Frampton Street and Aberdeen Place
09:45 , Rebecca WhittakerA helicopter is currently monitoring the scene of the fire which has now significantly reduced, according to reports from the scene.
Emergency services remain on Frampton Street and Aberdeen Place, and the area is still cordoned off.
Residents are still gathered outside the cordon, many watching as firefighters continue to work to fully extinguish the blaze and assess the damage to the substation and the nearby residential building.
Westminster council advises residents to keep windows shut
09:40 , Andy GregoryWestminster City Council has reiterated advice urging residents to keep their doors and windows closed as firefighters tackle the blaze in Maida Vale.
In a statement on social media, the council said: “The London Fire Brigade are dealing with a fire at an electrical substation on Victoria Passage NW8 in Westminster.
“Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut.”
Fire crews expected to remain on scene throughout the day
09:28 , Andy GregoryThe ongoing fire in Maida Vale will be a protracted incident and firefighters are expected to remain on scene throughout the day, the London Fire Brigade has said.
Pictured: Huge plumes of smoke seen rising from substation
09:20 , Andy GregoryHuge plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the Maida Vale substation fire on Tuesday morning.
Around 80 people evacuated from block flats impacted by blaze
09:14 , Andy GregoryAround 80 people have been evacuated from a block of flats, the London Fire Brigade said, after the blaze spread to the roof of a residential building next to the substation.
Substation fire comes just weeks after blaze that knocked out Heathrow
09:03 , Rebecca WhittakerThis morning’s blaze comes just weeks after a massive fire ripped through an electricity substation near Heathrow.
Thousands of passengers had their flights cancelled or altered in mid-air and forced the airport to close for more than 15 hours.
The blaze which caused the power outage erupted at a high-voltage electricity substation in Hayes, five miles north of the airport, leaving around 67,000 households suffering power cuts.
Read more about that incident here:
Heathrow airport: Everything we know about the fire and effects of grounded flights
Residents urged to avoid area and close windows
08:57 , Andy GregoryFire station commander Paul Morgan, who is at the scene of the blaze in Maida Vale, said: “This is a very visible fire and producing lots of smoke.
“Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut and avoid the area where possible.”
100 firefighters called to tackle blaze in Maida Vale
08:53 , Andy GregoryAround 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines have been called to the blaze in Maida Vale, London Fire Brigade said.
Fire crews from Paddington and Euston and surrounding fire stations are in attendance.
The fire brigade was called just before 5:30am and has so far received more than 160 emergency calls about the huge fire.
Full report: Fire at London substation spreads to residential building
08:51 , Andy GregoryA large fire has broken out at a London substation, with black smoke and flames seen erupting in rush hour near Warwick Avenue station.
Part of a neighbouring residential building is also alight.
My colleague Rebecca Whittaker has more details in this breaking report:
Good morning, we’ll be using this blog to provide you with the latest updates on the fire at an electrical substation in Maida Vale.
