Weeks after a devastating fire tore through the Forest Gate Police Station on Romford Road, sections of the road and a nearby residential street remain closed to the public. The blaze, which occurred on March 6, has caused significant structural damage to the building, raising concerns over potential falling debris and prompting an ongoing closure for safety assessments.
The fire, which required the efforts of approximately 175 firefighters to extinguish, has not resulted in any reported injuries. However, it completely destroyed the roof and parts of the upper building, leading to prolonged road closures and bus diversions in the area. The immediate vicinity around the police station, located in the borough of Newham, has been cordoned off as surveyors and structural engineers assess the stability of the building and the risk to public safety.
In response to the incident, the Met Police’s 999 response officers have been temporarily relocated to Plaistow police station, with a mobile front counter established at Stratford Police Station to continue serving the public.
Detective Superintendent Charles Clare of Newham addressed the situation, stating, “Since the fire at Forest Gate Police Station, officers and police staff have been working round the clock to ensure we continue to deliver a policing response to all our communities across Newham.” He further apologized for the inconvenience caused by the road closures, emphasizing that the measures were necessary for the safety of the public due to the potential hazard of falling debris from the damaged building.
The Metropolitan Police and Newham Council have been collaborating to address the situation, aiming to reopen the roads as soon as it is deemed safe. However, an exact timeline for when this will happen remains unclear, leaving residents and local business owners in a state of uncertainty.
The aftermath of the fire has not only disrupted local traffic and affected nearby businesses but has also prompted a thorough investigation into its cause. The London Fire Brigade (LFB), which battled the blaze, has indicated that determining the cause could take some time due to the scale and complexity of the incident.
As the community awaits further updates, the emphasis remains on public safety, with authorities working diligently to secure the site and mitigate any risks to residents and passersby. For the latest information on road closures and bus diversions, the public is advised to consult the council’s website and stay tuned for announcements from local authorities.
