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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Georgia Bell and Anthony France

Southall fire: ‘Explosions’ heard as huge blaze rips through west London warehouse

London Southall

Around 150 firefighters tackled a huge blaze in Southall on Tuesday, with a vast plume of smoke visible across the London skyline.

The London Fire Brigade were called to the fire at a warehouse and retail space in Bridge Road shortly before 9am.

A major incident, since stood down, was declared by the LFB with the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders within the burning structure. Explosions were reported at the scene.

The fire brigade sent 25 fire engines to the scene.

Footage posted online shows the fire ripping through the building and thick black smoke billowing out.

The LFB said at least three quarters of the building was alight during the fire and advised residents in the area to keep doors and windows closed due to the large amount of smoke.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Major incident stood down

19:16 , Alastair Lockhart
The scene of the blaze (LFB)

The major incident at the fire in Southall has been stood down, the London Fire Brigade has said.

At the height of the blaze, two thirds of the warehouse was on fire.

After nearly six hours of battling the flames, the LFB contained the fire to around a quarter of the building

Crews will continue to tackle the fire overnight.

Cylinders and fireworks stored in Southall warehouse engulfed by flames with incident continuing ‘into the evening’

17:45 , Anthony France

A major incident has been declared as 150 firefighters respond to an inferno at a warehouse on Bridge Road, Southall.

In an update at the scene, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, London Fire Brigade’s incident commander, said: “As crews carried out firefighting operations, explosions were reported at the scene. These explosions likely involved cylinders and fireworks stored in the affected structure. As a result, a major incident was declared, with additional firefighters requested to attend the scene.

“Neighbouring properties, including three schools and a residential block have been evacuated as a precaution whilst crews respond.

“We currently have 25 fire engines and around 150 firefighters tackling this incident, working hard to bring it under control. This is a protracted incident, and firefighting operations will continue into the evening. The fire is still producing a large amount of smoke, so we’re advising local residents still keep doors and windows closed where possible.

“At this time, the cause of the fire remains unknown.

“I’d like to thank our firefighters, control officers and staff for their response to this incident so far, and the work they will continue to do. We were also supported early on in the incident by fire engines from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

“I’d also like to finish by thanking our partners from the London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police and Transport for London for their support as we respond. The brigade’s community engagement team is also working with the local authority as they support residents who have been displaced by this incident.”

Metropolitan Police helping to evacuate nearby properties

16:59 , Anthony France

The Metropolitan Police said it remain at the scene of the Southall warehouse “helping to evacuate nearby buildings and properties”.

The force’s Ealing account added on X, formerly Twitter: “We will continue to support and work with London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service colleagues.”

First reports of the fire were received at 8.55am, the LFB said.

The brigade’s control officers have since taken around 60 calls but a cause of the blaze is not yet known.

Three schools and a residential block have been evacuated in Southall fire

16:45 , Anthony France

Around three-quarters of the warehouse in Southall is currently alight, the London Fire Brigade said.

Three schools and a residential block have been evacuated as a precaution while crews respond.

“To everyone in the area, just keep yourself safe,” London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith told the PA news agency.

“Keep yourselves out of the perimeter. We’ve got a 200-metre perimeter around the scene. We’ll make sure that everyone keeps away.

“It’s going to be a very, very busy scene of operations for the foreseeable future, certainly overnight.

“So, we would ask members of the public to keep away, keep a safe distance and allow the fire brigade to do their job.”

Fire blazes on: London Fire Brigade says firefighting will continue into the night

15:46 , Georgia Bell

The London Fire Brigade has announced that they are still working to tackle the fire that erupted in a warehouse building in Southall this morning.

As the sun begins to set on London, the organization has said they expect to continue fighting the blaze into the night.

Eyewitnesses say they began to hear “fireworks” and “explosions” as early as 8:40 am, indicating the fire has already raged on for seven hours.

Photos shared by London Fire Brigade show extent of damage from Southall fire

15:12 , Georgia Bell

These shocking photos show the extent of the damage wreaked by the Southall fire at a warehouse in south London today.

The post, shared to X by the London Fire Brigade, appears to show the rubble of the burnt down warehouse, with the roof caved in.

The blaze appears to be ongoing, as plumes of smoke continue to rise from the site.

Smoke from Southall fire as seen from the sky

14:37 , Georgia Bell

Smoke can be seen from the sky, as seen in one airline passenger’s post to X.

The post is captioned “The fireworks factory fire in Southall, today. Smoke blowing across the approach to LHR”, referring to London Heathrow.

Ealing council announces local schools closed and residents evacuated

14:20 , Georgia Bell

Ealing Council has declared the Southall fire a major incident.

The council has said that local residents are being evacuated, schools are sending children home and rest centres have been established.

They have asked locals to avoid the area if possible, and reminded people living nearby to keep windows and doors closed.

Southall fire declared as 'major incident'

13:42 , Claudia Lee

The fire in Southall has been declared as a major incident by the London Fire Brigade (LFB).

In an update after midday, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: "This decision has been taken due to the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders being stored within the structure.

"All firefighters have withdrawn to a safe distance and are now fighting the fire from a greater distance to ensure crew safety."

Smoke from Southall fire seen from Heathrow

12:57 , Claudia Lee

The smoke clouds from the Southall fire can now be spotted from Heathrow Airport in Hillingdon, West London.

One user posted a photo which shows a plane on the runway with smoke plumes rising from the blaze in Merton.

Second warehouse reportedly on fire

12:28 , Georgia Bell

A second warehouse has reportedly caught alight during the massive blaze in Southall.

Footage shared to X shows a second building on fire as smoke plumes continue to billow above the blaze.

One user has said: “Guys the warehouse next to it is also on fire now and the explosions came back strong”

Southall fire witness: "I heard fireworks"

11:47 , Georgia Bell

One witness reported hearing “firework sounds” at 8.40 am on Tuesday morning before seeing the huge fire.

Ria, 26, said, “I started hearing firework noises at around 8:40 this morning.”

She assumed it was fireworks and due to the volume of celebrations for Bonfire Night and Diwali over the previous few weeks, and ignored it.

She reported hearing the noises getting louder, and when she checked out of the window at 9:10 am “the fire was pretty drastic.”

Explosions were reportedly heard at the site of the Southall fire

11:41 , Georgia Bell

Explosions were reportedly heard at the site of the Southall fire.

Footage appears to show the fire, which reportedly took place at a warehouse in Southall, continuing to rage.

More fire engines and firefighters sent to massive Southall fire

11:14 , Georgia Bell

More fire engines and firefighters have been sent to a huge fire raging in Southall, West London.

The London Fire Brigade previously announced that it had sent 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters to respond to the scene.

The force has now said that 25 fire engines have been sent to the scene, with around 150 firefighters tackling the blaze.

Smoke from Southall fire can be seen in Merton, South West London

11:03 , Georgia Bell

The smoke clouds from the Southall fire can be spotted from Merton, in South West London.

One user posted a photo depicting the smoke plumes billowing from the fire from Merton - which is approximately 17 miles from Southall.

Traffic in Southall impacted as firefighters wrangle huge fire

11:01 , Georgia Bell

Drivers in the Southall area have been warned to expect delays whilst firefighters respond to a huge fire on Tuesday morning.

The fire is reported to be raging on Bridge Road, near Southall station.

The London Fire Brigade said “Traffic in the area will be heavily impacted as crews respond.”

Firefighters are "working hard" to tackle huge Southall fire

10:58 , Georgia Bell

The London Fire Brigade said that firefighters are “working hard” to bring the Southall fire under control.

Earlier this morning, they confirmed that 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters had been deployed to respond to the scene.

Southall fire visible from Kew in West London

10:56 , Georgia Bell

The Southall fire can be seen in Kew, West London, according to reports.

Kew is approximately 6 miles away from Southall.

One user posted this to X, adding: “It’s very visible here from Kew. Hoping everyone is ok”

Smoke clouds visible from central London

10:55 , Georgia Bell

The smoke clouds rising above the Southall fire can be seen all the way from central London, according to social media witnesses.

One user has posted a photo which appears to be taken from a height in central London, with the caption, “Visible from the City of London.”

Huge plumes of smoke seen on Southall skyline

10:53 , Georgia Bell

Huge smoke clouds can be seen hovering over West London in photos shared by witnesses to social media.

The smoke clouds fill the sky from a distance, as one user says on X: “Hope they stay safe, looks huge”

The London Fire Brigade has deployed 15 fire engines to scene

10:51 , Georgia Bell

The London Fire Brigade has confirmed that they have deployed 15 fire engines to the scene of the fire, as well as around 100 firefighters responding.

They confirmed that the fire has produced a large quantity of smoke, which is impacting air pollution the local area.

Local residents have been advised to keep doors and windows closed as whilst firefighters respond to the scene.

A fire has broken out in Southall, West London

10:49 , Georgia Bell

Smoke can be seen on the skyline in West London after a fire erupted in Southall on Tuesday morning.

The London Fire Brigade were called to the scene at around 9am.

There is no information as yet to the cause of the fire

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