A major fire has engulfed a warehouse in West London, prompting the London Fire Brigade to declare a major incident and deploy 150 firefighters to the scene.
Emergency Response and Major Incident Declaration
The blaze broke out at a building on Bridge Road in Southall and was first reported at 8.55am on Tuesday 25 November 2025. Fire crews were immediately dispatched to the location, with the incident escalating rapidly due to concerns about the contents of the warehouse.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, serving as the Brigade's incident commander, confirmed that a major incident had been declared because of the suspected presence of fireworks and cylinders within the structure. This discovery prompted firefighters to withdraw to a safe distance and continue firefighting operations from further away to ensure crew safety.
Scale of the Blaze and Firefighting Efforts
The London Fire Brigade deployed substantial resources to combat the flames, sending 25 fire engines and 150 firefighters to the scene. The fire service confirmed that the blaze affected a two-storey structure containing both warehouse and retail space.
According to official statements, approximately three-quarters of the structure was alight during the peak of the fire. To tackle the extensive blaze, the Brigade deployed three turntable ladders, allowing crews to fight the fire from height with specialised equipment.
The brigade's control officers received approximately 60 emergency calls from members of the public reporting the fire, indicating the scale and visibility of the incident within the local community.
Public Safety Measures and Ongoing Operations
London's Fire Commissioner Jonathan Smith issued a direct warning to local residents, urging people to keep away from the 200-metre perimeter established around the fire scene. He emphasised the importance of public safety while fire crews worked to bring the situation under control.
Commissioner Smith stated: "To everyone in the area, just keep yourself safe. Keep yourselves out of the perimeter. We've got a 200-metre perimeter around the scene. We'll make sure that everyone keeps away."
The fire service advised residents in affected areas to keep doors and windows closed due to the substantial amount of smoke being produced by the blaze. Authorities also warned that traffic in the vicinity would be significantly impacted as emergency operations continued.
Fire officials confirmed that this would be a protracted incident, with crews expected to remain at the scene throughout the night and potentially longer. The cause of the fire remains unknown as investigations will likely begin once the blaze is fully extinguished.
