Blazing Inferno at Garden Centre Near Heathrow Tackled by 100 Firefighters
A huge fire ripped through a garden centre near Heathrow Airport tonight, bringing 100 firefighters to the scene in a frantic battle to contain the flames.
Garden Centre Engulfed in Flames
The two-storey garden centre on Holloway Lane, West Drayton, was mostly ablaze when crews arrived. Emergency teams put up a huge 300-metre safety cordon, closing off roads and nearby areas to keep the public safe.
- About 20 people escaped the blaze before the fire brigade’s arrival.
- No injuries have been reported so far.
Cylinders and Fireworks Spark Extra Danger
Station Manager Sanjay Prasad revealed the nightmare scenario firefighters faced. “There were a number of gas cylinders inside the garden centre. These could have exploded due to the heat, so we set up a 300-metre hazard zone.”
Thanks to quick thinking, firefighters dragged most of the cylinders away from the inferno, preventing a major explosion. The rest were cooled down with covering jets of water.
Adding to the danger, fireworks were stored in the building. “Firefighters immediately doused the storage area to stop any sparks catching fire,” Prasad added.
Massive Firefighting Effort Brings Blaze Under Control
Fifteen fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms joined the fight from Heathrow, Hayes, Feltham, Southall, and other nearby stations. The blaze was visible for miles, prompting around 20 calls to Brigade Control.
The fire started around 4:33 pm and was finally brought under control by 9:31 pm, but crews remain on site to deal with hot spots overnight.
“Most of the garden centre building was badly damaged, but we prevented the fire from spreading further,” said Prasad. “Thankfully, no one was hurt.”
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation as authorities piece together what sparked the dramatic blaze near one of the UK’s busiest airports.
