An electricity substation near Heathrow has caught fire – leaving thousands of West London properties without power.
More than 70 firefighters and ten fire engines rushed to the scene, on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, to tackle the blaze this evening.
Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky.
Roughly 150 people have been evacuated from the area and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution.
Firefighters have advised local residents to keep their windows and doors closed to stop the ‘significant’ amount of smoke entering their homes.
One witness told LBC: ‘I was crossing a bridge and there was a huge explosion.’
Another posted a video of the blaze on X writing: ‘Scary scenes in Hayes. Power cut and massive fire.’
An electricity substation near Heathrow has caught fire – leaving thousands of West London properties without power
Dramatic images show flames tearing through the structure as smoke billows into the night sky
A local resident claims ‘all the power is out for the entire area up to Hounslow.’
According to the Powertrack site, around 16,000 households are thought to be affected.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the a large-scale power outage in the surrounding areas.
The London Fire Brigade said in a statement during the early hours of Friday: ‘Around 20 people have been evacuated from neighbouring properties and a 200-metre cordon has been put in place as a precaution with around 150 people evacuated.
‘The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and local residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
‘The Brigade’s Control Officers have taken almost 200 calls to the fire. The first call was received at 2323 and crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall and surrounding fire stations were mobilised to the scene.’
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
