A huge fire has ripped through properties in east London, sparking evacuations and closing railway lines.
Around 125 firefighters battled the major blaze in Walthamstow after a railway embankment caught fire on Sunday evening.
At its height, the fire could be seen raging metres from railway lines as it spread to homes and around 30 gardens.
Residents were advised to avoid the area around Vallentin Road entirely and keep their windows and doors closed, as crews from London Fire Brigade worked to tackle the blaze.
The service received calls about the fire at 6.27pm on Sunday, July 12, and has sent out 25 engines to help contain the flames.
Large plumes of smokes could be seen in the air for miles around the fire site.
The Weaver Line through Wood Street is disrupted after an electrical fire on the tracks#WoodStreet #Walthamstow #E17 #WalthamForest #London #EastLondon pic.twitter.com/4IpMuQifie
— London Baithead (@londonbaithead) July 12, 2026
The Weaver Overground line has been closed with travellers advised to check Transport for London for updates.
Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall, who was at the scene, said: “This was a significant incident affecting the community this evening. I am thankful that no injuries have been sustained.
“We have worked with the local authority and our other partners to set up two rest centres for residents who have been evacuated from their homes. They are all being supported at this time and we are hopeful that the majority of them will be able to return home tonight.
“We deployed a significant amount of resources to this fire and firefighters worked in hot and arduous conditions to bring it under control as swiftly as possible.
"One house was alight, and a second home has suffered damage to a rear extension. The gardens of around 30 properties have also unfortunately been affected by the fire. However, crews worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from spreading to further homes.
WALTHAMSTOW FIRE
— YEDIS DRONE SHOTS (@yedisdroneshots) July 12, 2026
Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters have been called to a fire near Vallentin Road in Walthamstow
A railway embankment is alight
A number of gardens and outbuildings close to the railway line are also affected
The incident is producing a… pic.twitter.com/teN1j0F37K
“A railway embankment was also alight and this has caused disruption to the Weaver London Overground line. We have worked closely with Transport for London and the British Transport Police to support passengers on stopped trains. All passengers have now left the railway."
The fire brigade stayed at the scene overnight as efforts to fully extinguish the blaze continued.
Ten gas cylinders were cooled amid fears they could explode due to the extreme heat.
Local MP Stella Creasy said: "Look Walthamstow, is you're seeing the reports, there has been an electrical fire on the train lines so the roads around Wood Street are closed.
"Please can you avoid the area. I'm on Vallentin Road at the moment, that is closed. Brook Road is closed. Shernall Street is closed. Please avoid the Wood Street area for now. All I know at the moment is there's been a fire on the train tracks.
"I understand you're seeing the smoke. It's obviously incredibly scary, but please help the police and the fire brigade by staying away from the Wood Street area."
A nearby resident said he was relaxing at home on Wood Street when a friend alerted him to the emergency.
Gary Nelson, 59, told The Sun: “I was sitting in my courtyard when my friend phoned and said something was going on.
“I could see fire engines racing past one after another.
“That’s when I knew something serious had happened.”
The witness said residents were left “shaken” as emergency vehicles flooded the area.
It comes as the London Fire Brigade said there was an “extreme” threat of wildfires in the capital over the weekend amid the latest summer heatwave.
On Friday night, a bushfire broke out next to railways lines close to Stratford Station, closing the travel hub and causing travel chaos.
It comes as the London Fire Brigade said there was an “extreme” threat of wildfires in the capital over the weekend amid the latest summer heatwave.
On Friday night, a bushfire broke out next to railways lines close to Stratford Station, closing the travel hub and causing travel chaos.
