A fire at a waste facility in Landman Way, Deptford, South London, involving 50 tonnes of household waste, was brought under control after more than six hours, but crews remained on scene to extinguish remaining pockets of fire. The blaze, which started at around 8pm on Tuesday, prompted the closure of nearby rail lines as a precaution.
Station Commander Duncan Rees, speaking from the scene, said: "Crews worked hard in difficult conditions to bring the fire under control. One of the Brigade's 32m ladders and a 64m ladder were both used as a water towers to tackle the flames from above. Whilst the fire is under control, crews will remain on scene into the morning and afternoon as they work to extinguish the remaining pockets of fire."
Fire Out of Control by 2:16am, 160 Calls Made
The first call was received at 8pm, and the fire was declared out of control by 2:16am, with 160 calls made to the London Fire Brigade. The fire was not fully extinguished by the time of the report, with parts of the flaming dump still alight.
Dramatic photographs captured the aftermath, showing a charred structure with thick plumes of acrid smoke billowing across the London skyline. The waste facility's skeleton is severely fire-damaged.
Precautionary Rail Closures and Ongoing Investigation
As a precaution, nearby train lines were closed while crews responded to the fire. The cause of the fire is not yet known, and an investigation is likely to follow.
The London Fire Brigade deployed two of its high-rise ladders—a 32m ladder and a 64m ladder—as water towers to tackle the flames from above, a technique used for large-scale fires.
Crews remained on scene into the morning and afternoon to deal with remaining hotspots. The incident highlights the challenges faced by firefighters in industrial settings and the potential disruption to transport networks during such emergencies.
