The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has stood down a major incident following a large and complex fire at a warehouse in Southall, west London. The blaze, which was first reported on Tuesday morning, was believed to involve fireworks and gas cylinders, prompting a significant emergency response.
Emergency Response and Incident Timeline
The fire service received the first calls about the fire at 8.55am on Tuesday, 25 November 2025. Due to the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders within the two-storey building on Bridge Road, a major incident was formally declared at 12.20pm.
To combat the intense blaze, the LFB deployed a substantial force, including 25 fire engines and approximately 150 firefighters. Crews were called in from stations across the area, including Southall, Heston, and Ealing. The scale of the fire was immense, with the brigade confirming that around three-quarters of the structure was alight at its peak.
For safety reasons, firefighters withdrew to a safe distance and utilised three turntable ladders to attack the flames from height. The operation was so significant that the LFB initially expected to be fighting the fire throughout the night.
Impact on the Local Community
The fire had an immediate and serious impact on the surrounding community. As a precautionary measure, three schools and a residential block were evacuated. The LFB established a 200-metre safety perimeter around the site and urged the public to stay away.
London Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith directly addressed local residents, stating, "Just keep yourself safe. Keep yourselves out of the perimeter... It's going to be a very, very busy scene of operations for the foreseeable future, certainly overnight."
Residents were also advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to the vast amount of smoke produced by the burning warehouse. The LFB also warned that traffic in the area would be significantly affected.
Stand Down and Ongoing Operations
In a positive development, the London Fire Brigade announced that the major incident was stood down a little after 6pm on Tuesday. Despite this downgrade, the fire was not fully extinguished, with crews expected to remain on scene for some time.
The warehouse, which comprised both storage and retail space, suffered severe damage. The fire caused the roof of the building to collapse, and even after the major incident was declared over, around a quarter of the structure was still burning on Tuesday evening.
The cause of the fire is not yet known, and the brigade's control officers had taken around 60 calls from members of the public about the incident. Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, who served as the incident commander, emphasised that the declaration of a major incident was directly linked to the potential hazards stored inside.
