Around 60 firefighters are battling a blaze at a waste transfer facility in Brixton, as heavy clouds of smoke drift across south London. The fire broke out at a site on Belinda Road, involving approximately 70 tonnes of household waste inside a metal structure.
Fire crews respond to emergency
Eight fire engines rushed to the scene at 5:10pm on Thursday. Roads remain closed between Hinton Road and Loughborough Park as firefighters work through the night to control the blaze. No injuries have been reported.
Station Commander Ken Spratt, who is at the scene, said: "Firefighters are working hard to bring the incident at the waste transfer site under control as quickly as possible. On-site machinery is being used to turn over the waste so that firefighters can access hot spots. This will be a protracted incident with crews on scene throughout the night."
Public safety advice
"The fire is producing smoke in the vicinity, which is being carried by the wind, and we're asking people to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area where possible. There are road closures in place between Hinton Road and Loughborough Park," Spratt added.
The Brigade's Control Officers received the first of more than 30 calls about the fire at 5:10pm. Crews from Brixton, Clapham, New Cross, Lambeth, West Norwood, and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The Brigade's Community Engagement team is also present to provide support to residents.
Investigation ongoing
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene throughout the night to ensure the fire is fully extinguished and to monitor for any hotspots.
