The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has confirmed the cause of a massive fire that erupted at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, late Thursday evening. The blaze was sparked when a transformer containing over 25,000 litres of cooling oil caught fire, causing a massive explosion and sending flames towering into the sky.
The incident led to widespread power outages, initially leaving around 67,000 homes without electricity, with approximately 4,000 properties still affected as of Friday afternoon. The fire also severely impacted Heathrow Airport, causing partial power cuts in Terminals 2 and 4, and forcing the cancellation of over 1,300 flights.
Major Emergency Response
At its height, the inferno required 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines, with crews battling the flames for more than seven hours before the blaze was brought under control. Despite the scale of the fire, no injuries have been reported.
An investigation is underway, and counter-terror police are assisting as a precautionary measure, although there is currently no indication of foul play.
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Residents are advised to check with their local councils and electricity providers for service updates, and Heathrow Airport has issued new travel advisories on its website.
