More than 70 people have been evacuated from their homes after a massive fire ripped through a nearby warehouse in northwest London. Both floors and the roof of the building in Brent were engulfed in flames, requiring two dozen fire engines and around 150 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.
Fire at business park
The fire erupted shortly after 9pm on Thursday at a business park on Oxgate Lane. Residents living nearby who were not evacuated were advised to keep their windows closed due to the 'significant' amount of smoke produced.
Huge plumes of thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the night sky from miles away. Nearly 90 people called 999 to report the blaze, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB). Photos show most of the building in flames.
LFB statement
An LFB spokesperson said: 'Twenty-five fire engines and around 150 firefighters responded to a fire on Oxgate Lane, Brent. The fire was located on a business park and involved a multi-use warehouse building consisting of two floors. At the fire's height, the majority of the structure and its roof was alight.'
'Around 70 people from a neighbouring residential block were evacuated as a precaution while firefighting operations were carried out. There are no reports of any injuries at this time. Residents in the local area had been advised to keep doors and windows closed where possible. This was due to the significant amount of smoke being produced by the fire.'
