Major warehouse fire rips through Southall in London.

A massive fire continues to rage at a warehouse in Southall, west London, spewing heavy columns of black smoke into the sky hours after it began.

Firefighters believe fireworks and gas cylinders may have been kept within the building, presenting major safety concerns.

The two-story warehouse, located in Middlesex Business Park on Bridge Road, was reported to be on fire around 08:55 GMT on Tuesday and is still burning many hours later. Eyewitnesses report that smoke can still be observed around the region.

At the height of the disaster, almost two-thirds of the structure was reported to be on fire, with the roof eventually collapsing. Around 150 firefighters and 25 fire engines from Southall, Heston, Ealing, and the surrounding regions are tackling the fire.

Pat Goulbourne, Assistant Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, stated that workers had temporarily withdrew to a safer distance due to the potential of explosions but will continue to operate from afar to try to bring the fire under control.

According to Goulbourne, explosions were detected at the area, causing ground crews to request additional reinforcements following their initial response.

“Subsequent firefighting operations were carried out from a distance to reduce the risk of explosions and assure crew safety. Goulbourne stated that firefighters will remain on the scene throughout the evening.

Three neighbouring schools and a residential block have been evacuated as a precaution, with inhabitants advised to keep doors and windows closed due to the significant amount of smoke produced by the fire.

The brigade classified the event as “protracted,” with firefighting expected to go many more hours.

No injuries have been recorded, and the cause of the fire is still being investigated.

In a post on X, the LFB labelled the ongoing fire a “major incident” due to the probable existence of fireworks and cylinders within one of the structures involved.

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