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Heathrow cargo depot hit by fire | Heathrow cargo depot hit by fire |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A large plume of smoke rose from the fire at the Heathrow cargo depot (Picture by Matthew Bennett) | |
About 100 firefighters were brougt in to tackle a fire at a cargo area at Heathrow. | |
It is thought a forklift truck caught fire at the Servisair Warehouse and the fire spread to a building at the west London airport. | |
No-one is believed to have been hurt but witnesses reported a small number of explosions, probably from gas cylinders on the vehicle. | No-one is believed to have been hurt but witnesses reported a small number of explosions, probably from gas cylinders on the vehicle. |
London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called at 1315 BST. | |
More than 200 people were evacuated from the area. | |
The cargo area was cordoned off but the airfield remained open. Roads in the area were closed but have re-opened. | |
A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said "operations were unaffected" but they would be monitoring the situation. | A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport said "operations were unaffected" but they would be monitoring the situation. |
Lee Parker, 25, was delivering a package to the cargo area when the fire started. | Lee Parker, 25, was delivering a package to the cargo area when the fire started. |
He said: "I had got out of my vehicle and was standing pretty close when I heard a loud bang then smoke started coming out of nowhere. | He said: "I had got out of my vehicle and was standing pretty close when I heard a loud bang then smoke started coming out of nowhere. |
"There were soon police everywhere, including helicopters, and we were all moved from the area. | "There were soon police everywhere, including helicopters, and we were all moved from the area. |
"I'm about a mile away now and I can see lots of black smoke and it's heading towards the runway. | "I'm about a mile away now and I can see lots of black smoke and it's heading towards the runway. |
"Police have cordoned off the area in a large circle and there are people just stood about as they have been evacuated from all the buildings." | "Police have cordoned off the area in a large circle and there are people just stood about as they have been evacuated from all the buildings." |
Firefighters described the incident as 'sizeable' (Picture by Satpal Sidhu) | |
Firefighters were sent from stations near Heathrow to supplement the small force based at the airport. | Firefighters were sent from stations near Heathrow to supplement the small force based at the airport. |
An LFB spokesman said it was a "sizeable" fire in a warehouse within the airport perimeter. | An LFB spokesman said it was a "sizeable" fire in a warehouse within the airport perimeter. |
"The cause will be investigated. We have no reports of injuries at this stage." | "The cause will be investigated. We have no reports of injuries at this stage." |
It is the third fire in the vicinity of Heathrow this year. | It is the third fire in the vicinity of Heathrow this year. |
In June a fire broke out at a nearby scrapyard. Smoke could be seen for miles as 110 cars burned and some departing flights were forced to switch runways. | In June a fire broke out at a nearby scrapyard. Smoke could be seen for miles as 110 cars burned and some departing flights were forced to switch runways. |
In April nine flights were diverted to Gatwick Airport after a small fire began in Heathrow's control tower. | In April nine flights were diverted to Gatwick Airport after a small fire began in Heathrow's control tower. |