A large fire broke out at a substation in central London, just weeks after a similar incident at Heathrow Airport causing widespread disruption. Black smoke and flames were visible during rush hour today near Warwick Avenue station.
The London Fire Brigade responded to the scene at Aberdeen Place in Maida Vale, dispatching 15 fire engines and approximately 100 firefighters. A nearby residential block of flats has also caught fire, prompting the evacuation of about 80 residents.
Firefighters received over 170 emergency calls at 5:29 a.m. on Tuesday. Station Commander Paul Morgan, who is at the scene, stated, “This is a highly visible fire, producing significant smoke. Residents are advised to keep windows and doors shut and avoid the area if possible.”
Fire crews from Paddington, Euston, and surrounding stations are working tirelessly to contain the blaze. A helicopter is monitoring the situation from above as residents gather outside the cordon, watching as firefighters continue to battle the fire and assess the damage to the substation and the nearby flats.
Westminster City Council has reinforced the safety advice, urging residents to keep their doors and windows closed as the fire is brought under control. In a statement, the council said, “The London Fire Brigade is managing a fire at an electrical substation on Victoria Passage, NW8. Residents should ensure windows and doors are closed.”
One evacuated resident described the fire as “an inferno.” Alice Bazzi, 36, recalled how her mother, Fatima, 71, woke her shortly before 5:30 a.m. after smelling smoke. Speaking from the Wharncliffe Gardens Community Centre, where evacuees have gathered, Alice said, “You could feel the heat on your face; it was overwhelming.”
The fire is believed to have reached the roof of the building, with flames reportedly higher than the surrounding trees. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, and fire crews are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day.
This incident follows a massive fire at an electrical substation near Heathrow in March, which caused flight cancellations and delays. The fire in Hayes, located five miles from the airport, caused a 15-hour closure of the airport and left 67,000 households without power.
UK Power Networks has confirmed that the fire at the Maida Vale substation has not disrupted power supplies to the area.
