A devastating fire has ripped through a warehouse in West London, causing significant financial damage to local businesses and requiring a massive emergency response.
Inferno Erupts in Business Park
The blaze broke out on Tuesday, November 25, at a two-story building within the Middlesex Business Park in Southall. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was inundated with 70 calls, the first coming in at 8.55am, alerting them to the severity of the incident.
At its peak, the inferno was so intense that approximately three-quarters of the structure was alight, causing the warehouse roof to collapse. The ferocity of the flames forced 150 firefighters across 25 fire engines to retreat and establish a 200-metre safety perimeter.
Local Businesses Count the Cost
The aftermath of the fire has left several nearby traders facing substantial financial losses, both from destroyed stock and lost earnings due to the area closure.
An anonymous worker at Easicars Auction Southall reported a loss of £10,000 in earnings. A mobile phone retailer saw £10,000 of stock burnt to ashes inside the building.
Other affected businesses include UK Quality Tyres, which is approximately £1,600 out of pocket, and Amandeep, owner of Advanced Glazing Limited, who estimates his loss at around £2,000. Combined, these initial reports indicate losses of at least £23,600.
Major Emergency Response and Safety Measures
Assistant commissioner Pat Goulbourne stated that the fire produced a vast amount of smoke, with plumes visible from more than 15 miles away. Residents were urgently advised to keep their doors and windows closed.
As a precautionary measure, three schools and a residential block were evacuated. Fire crews from Southall, Heston, Ealing, and surrounding stations attended the scene, deploying three turntable ladders to tackle the flames from above.
The incident was officially declared a major incident but was eventually stood down by around 6pm. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and remains under investigation by the London Fire Brigade.
