This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-16808273
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Firefighters contain huge warehouse fire in west London | Firefighters contain huge warehouse fire in west London |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Firefighters have contained a large blaze in a warehouse in west London, but small pockets are still burning. | |
At its height, London Fire Brigade (LFB) sent 15 appliances to the scene in Shepherds Bush and more than 75 firefighters. | |
The fire is under control and unstable gas cylinders made safe, LFB said. | |
Wood Lane remains closed after being shut shortly after the blaze started at 09:35 GMT. | |
About half of the large warehouse, measuring 170m by 90m (557ft by 295ft), has been destroyed in the fire. | |
'Worst' cylinders | |
A range of workshops and warehouses were damaged, as well as around 20 vehicles. | |
Station manager Rod Horton, said officers had found the "worst kind" of gas cylinders, containing acetylene, which remains unstable for some time once heated. | |
A spokeswoman later confirmed that the cylinders had been cooled down. | |
A further 40 cylinders of various types that were not involved in the fire were also removed to safety. | |
There are four fire engines at the scene and LFB expects to be there overnight. | |
More than 100 people were evacuated from the complex, according to a local petrol station worker. | More than 100 people were evacuated from the complex, according to a local petrol station worker. |
There were no reports of injury. | |
Rashid Ansari, 23, a sales assistant at Esso petrol station in Wood Lane, said: "The fire took place around the back of the Unigate factory. A lot of people work there... they have closed the road and not a single person is allowed down here. There is lots of thick, dark smoke." | Rashid Ansari, 23, a sales assistant at Esso petrol station in Wood Lane, said: "The fire took place around the back of the Unigate factory. A lot of people work there... they have closed the road and not a single person is allowed down here. There is lots of thick, dark smoke." |
'Traffic chaos' | 'Traffic chaos' |
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said: "Buses are currently on diversion and TfL is working to divert traffic away from the area and minimise any disruption caused by this incident." | A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said: "Buses are currently on diversion and TfL is working to divert traffic away from the area and minimise any disruption caused by this incident." |
White City Tube station reopened at 19:30 GMT. | |
Eyewitness Guy Ramshaw said: "We were on the A40, driving up from Earl's Court when we saw the smoke. | Eyewitness Guy Ramshaw said: "We were on the A40, driving up from Earl's Court when we saw the smoke. |
"They had shut the Westway so there was no A40 going out of the city from Paddington. It was causing chaos with the traffic." | "They had shut the Westway so there was no A40 going out of the city from Paddington. It was causing chaos with the traffic." |
Earlier, people were evacuated from the nearby BBC White City complex, but a BBC spokeswoman said it was due to an "unrelated issue" and no BBC buildings were affected by the fire. | |
The warehouses used to be owned by Unigate, which was taken over by Dairycrest in 2002. | |
The cause of the blaze is under investigation. | |