A major fire engulfed a warehouse in Southall, west London, on Tuesday, with emergency services warning that fireworks may be stored inside. About 150 firefighters and 25 fire engines were deployed to tackle the blaze at a two-storey structure on Bridge Road, which housed a warehouse and retail space.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that three-quarters of the building was ablaze at the height of the incident, with around a quarter still burning on Tuesday evening. The warehouse roof had collapsed, and a 200-metre perimeter was established. Three schools and a residential block of flats were evacuated as a precaution.
A major incident was declared before being stood down at 6.02pm, but firefighters will remain at the scene overnight. London fire commissioner Jonathan Smith urged the public to keep a safe distance, stating, 'Keep yourselves out of the perimeter... It's going to be a very, very busy scene of operations for the foreseeable future.'
Crews from Southall, Heston, Ealing, and surrounding fire stations responded. Three turntable ladders were initially used to fight the fire from height, but firefighters later withdrew for safety reasons. Incident commander Pat Goulbourne said, 'All firefighters have withdrawn to a safe distance... Due to the complex nature of the site, and the size of the fire, this will be a protracted incident.'
The fire produced a large amount of smoke, and residents were advised to close doors and windows. Drivers were asked to avoid the area. First reports of the fire were received at 8.55am, with about 60 calls in total.
