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Fire at London electricity substation and tower block under control | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 100 firefighters have been tackling the flames, which broke out at about 05:30 BST | |
A large fire that spread from an electricity substation to a block of flats in north-west London has been brought under control, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. | |
Around 80 residents were led to safety after the roof of the building on Aberdeen Place, Maida Vale, caught alight from the blaze, which broke out at about 05:30 BST. | |
No injuries have been reported, although LFB urged local residents to keep their doors and windows closed. | |
UK Power Networks said the cause of the fire was a "fault on a piece of equipment" in its substation". | UK Power Networks said the cause of the fire was a "fault on a piece of equipment" in its substation". |
More than 100 firefighters have been tackling the flames, which sent large clouds of grey smoke into the air. | |
LFB's Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne, speaking at the scene, said it was a "technically complex fire to extinguish". | |
He said a major incident was declared at 08:26 and stood down at 10:53. | |
Assistant Commissioner Goulbourne added: "We have a scientific adviser on site that is closely monitoring the quality of the air in the area. | |
"Firefighting operations will continue for some time to ensure we fully extinguish the transformer in the substation." | |
UK Power Networks said the substation remained operational and there had been no interruption to the electricity supply. | UK Power Networks said the substation remained operational and there had been no interruption to the electricity supply. |
London Fire Brigade's Patrick Goulbourne urged residents to keep windows and doors closed | |
Sanna Daw, who lives in a nearby block, told the BBC she had seen "bright orange flames" that were 6 - 8 ft high (about 1.8m - 2.4m) and a "huge billowing black plume" of smoke rise from the burning building. | |
"At one stage there was a big eruption... I was quite scared," she said. | "At one stage there was a big eruption... I was quite scared," she said. |
One resident who had to leave her home said she had been awoken by her mother at about 05:30 who had smelled the fire burning. | One resident who had to leave her home said she had been awoken by her mother at about 05:30 who had smelled the fire burning. |
'I felt the heat' | |
Alice Bazzi said as the morning went on, the flames became "higher than these trees" before catching the roof of her building. | Alice Bazzi said as the morning went on, the flames became "higher than these trees" before catching the roof of her building. |
She said the fire grew worse until "some sort inferno blow-up happened". | She said the fire grew worse until "some sort inferno blow-up happened". |
Using her hands to mimic the sudden rising of flames, she added: "You didn't hear it but you just saw it, it went 'phew'. | Using her hands to mimic the sudden rising of flames, she added: "You didn't hear it but you just saw it, it went 'phew'. |
"You felt it on your face, I felt the heat." | "You felt it on your face, I felt the heat." |
Large clouds of smoke can be seen coming from the site | Large clouds of smoke can be seen coming from the site |
LFB said it had received more than 170 calls about the fire, which it described as "very visible". | |
A UK Power Networks spokesperson said: "Our teams are working with the fire service to make the equipment safe. | A UK Power Networks spokesperson said: "Our teams are working with the fire service to make the equipment safe. |
"This is an isolated incident and customers' supplies were not impacted." | "This is an isolated incident and customers' supplies were not impacted." |
Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk |