A major incident has been declared in West London after a massive fire engulfed a warehouse in Southall, with emergency services warning that fireworks may be stored inside the burning building.
Firefighters Withdraw to Safe Distance
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that approximately 150 firefighters and 25 fire engines were dispatched to tackle the blaze on Bridge Road. The incident began at 8.55am on Tuesday, with the service receiving around 60 emergency calls.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne confirmed that due to the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders within the structure, all firefighters have been withdrawn to a safe distance as a precaution. Crews are now fighting the fire from a greater distance to ensure their safety.
Evacuations and Safety Warnings Issued
As a safety measure, a nearby school and a block of flats have been evacuated. The LFB has issued urgent advice for local residents to close their windows and doors due to the large amount of smoke produced by the fire.
Motorists have also been advised to avoid the area as heavy traffic is anticipated. The fire involved a two-storey structure containing both warehouse and retail space, with three-quarters of the building remaining ablaze.
Protected Incident Expected to Continue
Assistant Commissioner Goulbourne stated that due to the complex nature of the site and the size of the fire, this will be a protracted incident with firefighting operations expected to continue throughout the day.
Crews from Southall, Heston, Ealing and surrounding fire stations are responding to the emergency. While three turntable ladders were initially deployed to combat the flames from height, these have been withdrawn for safety reasons. The cause of the Southall blaze is not yet known.
