A major warehouse fire in Southall, London has been brought under control following an extensive multi agency response that began on the morning of 25 November.
London Fire Brigade confirmed that its presence at the Bridge Road site has now been scaled back, with firefighters continuing damping down operations and extinguishing remaining hotspots. No injuries have been reported. The Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service are jointly investigating the cause.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, who led the incident, outlined the scale of the response. He said: “At 0855, the Brigade’s Control officers took the first of over 70 calls reporting a fire at a warehouse on Bridge Road, Southall. Control officers immediately mobilised crews from Southall, Heston, Ealing and surrounding fire stations to the scene.”
On arrival, firefighters were met with a well developed fire within a two storey warehouse and retail structure. “As crews carried out firefighting operations, explosions were reported at the scene. These explosions likely involved cylinders and fireworks stored in the affected structure,” Goulbourne said.
The risk of further explosions prompted the declaration of a major incident. Approximately 1000 people from nearby homes and buildings, including three schools and a residential block, were evacuated as a precaution. Goulbourne added: “Twenty five fire engines and around 150 firefighters tackled this incident, working hard to bring it under control.”
At its height, roughly three quarters of the building was alight and the roof later collapsed, destroying most of the structure. The Brigade deployed three turntable ladders and its drone team to attack the fire from height and assess the extent of structural damage. Firefighters were withdrawn to a safe distance once the major incident was declared, with operations conducted externally due to explosion risks. The major incident was stood down at in the evening though crews remained in attendance overnight to monitor conditions.
Goulbourne thanked all responding personnel and partner agencies, including support from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, London Ambulance Service, the Metropolitan Police Service, British Transport Police and Transport for London.
Investigations into the cause, including whether fireworks contributed to the fire’s rapid spread, are ongoing.
