Major incident declared after fire breaks out at London warehouse ‘containing fireworks’

Emergency services have warned that fireworks and cylinders could be stored in a warehouse that went up in flames in West London as it was declared a major incident.

Thick clouds of smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze on Bridge Road in Southall.

Around 150 firefighters and 25 fire engines from Southall, Heston and Ealing responded to the blaze just before 9am this morning.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the fire broke out in a two-storey building comprising a warehouse and retail space, with around three-quarters of the building now burned.

Three-quarters of the building is now on fire and a nearby school and apartment blocks have been evacuated as a safety precaution.

Images taken from the scene show a thick cloud of smoke rising above the horizon. However, the cause of the fire is not yet known.

The brigade’s incident commander, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, said: “A major incident was declared whilst firefighters were responding to a fire on Southall Bridge Street. “This decision was taken due to the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders stored within the structure.

“All firefighters have retreated to a safe distance and are now fighting the fire from a greater distance to ensure the safety of the crew.

“Firefighters are working hard to safely contain this fire. The incident involves a mixed retail and warehouse area with a significant portion of the structure currently on fire. “Due to the complex nature of the area and the size of the fire, this will be a protracted incident with crews continuing firefighting operations throughout the day.

“The fire is producing large amounts of smoke and smoke can be seen from across West London. Residents nearby are advised to keep doors and windows closed while crews respond. Traffic in the local area will be heavily affected and people should avoid the area if possible.”

Residents in the area were advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the heavy amount of smoke and were warned that traffic in the area would also be affected due to the intervention of the teams.

Three spiral staircases had previously been deployed to allow crews to attack the fire from above, but firefighters have now stood back for safety reasons.

“All firefighters have retreated to a safe distance and are now fighting the fire from a greater distance to ensure the safety of the crew,” Ms Goulbourne said.

“Fire crews are working hard to bring the fire under control safely.

“Due to the complex nature of the site and the size of the fire, this will be a protracted incident where crews will continue firefighting operations throughout the day,” Ms Goulbourne added.

“We helped evacuate a nearby school and apartment block as a safety precaution.

“The fire is producing a large amount of smoke and smoke can be seen from across West London.

“People living nearby are advised to keep their doors and windows closed while crews intervene.

“Traffic in the local area will be significantly affected and people should avoid the area if possible.”