A major fire erupted in a two-storey building comprising a warehouse and retail space in Southall, West London. The London Fire Brigade deployed 25 fire engines and approximately 150 firefighters to the scene, with the blaze visible from up to 15 miles away.
The fire was declared a "major incident" due to the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders stored within the structure, prompting firefighters to withdraw to a safe distance and fight the fire from a greater distance. Residents in the surrounding areas were advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the significant amount of smoke, and traffic in the vicinity was heavily impacted.
The London Ambulance Service dispatched resources but reported no injuries so far. Locals described hearing multiple explosions preceding the fire.
The cause of the fire, which began around 8:55 AM, was not immediately known, and firefighting operations were expected to be protracted.
