Fire crews remain on scene more than 24 hours after a major blaze broke out at an electrical substation on Aberdeen Place, Maida Vale, early Tuesday morning. The fire, which prompted the evacuation of around 100 residents, was brought under control by midday but required a continued presence due to its technical complexity.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called at 05:29am on April 29 and declared a major incident at 08:26am, which was stood down at 10:53am. Despite this, firefighting operations have continued, with teams working to fully extinguish flames inside the substation’s electrical transformer, which initially caught fire and spread to adjacent buildings.
Fire Impacts Nearby Flats, Triggers Mass Evacuation
While no injuries have been reported, the fire affected the roof and a flat in a neighbouring residential block, and a second flat in another building suffered partial damage. Crews successfully contained the spread, and most residents have now been safely allowed to return home. A rest centre was temporarily established by Westminster Council to assist those displaced.
Complex Response Involving Foam, Drones, and Ladders
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne confirmed that 170 emergency calls were received by control officers due to the highly visible nature of the fire and significant smoke production.
“Although the fire is now under control, crews are continuing to work to fully extinguish the fire. Foam is being used to smother the flames and prevent reignition,” he said.
“This was a technically complex incident involving high-voltage infrastructure. One of our scientific advisors remains on-site monitoring air quality, and we continue to advise local residents to keep windows and doors closed.”
The operation involved 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters, with crews from Paddington, Euston, North Kensington, Willesden, West Hampstead, Soho, and surrounding stations. A 32-metre turntable ladder was deployed for aerial suppression, and the LFB drone team provided vital situational awareness.
Power Supplies Unaffected
Despite the scale of the incident, UK Power Networks has confirmed that power supplies have not been disrupted. Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing in partnership with Metropolitan Police and UK Power Networks engineers.
Ongoing Operations
The London Fire Brigade has confirmed that this is a protracted incident, and crews are expected to remain on-site throughout the day to complete extinguishment and ensure public safety.
