Major fire erupts at electrical substation in West London, 80 evacuated

LONDON

A major fire broke out early Tuesday morning at an electrical substation in Maida Vale, West London, prompting a large emergency response and the evacuation of around 80 residents.

The London Fire Brigade reported that about 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were deployed to the scene on Aberdeen Place, where an electrical transformer had caught fire.

The roof of a nearby residential building was also alight, intensifying the danger and scale of the incident.

"This is a very visible fire, which is producing lots of smoke," said station commander Paul Morgan.

"Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut and avoid the area where possible."

Photos from nearby areas showed thick black smoke billowing across the London skyline.

The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

Tuesday's fire comes just a month after another electrical substation blaze forced the temporary closure of Heathrow Airport.

That incident led to the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights and disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

The Metropolitan Police later confirmed they were not treating that fire as a criminal matter.