Fifteen fire trucks and approximately 100 firefighters rushed to a store in London that caught fire this evening. The London Fire Brigade reported that the fire impacted a ground floor shop with flats above it. Local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors shut, and the station was closed, leading to significant travel disruptions.
A 25-meter cordon was established, and the public was urged to steer clear of the area as the cause of the fire remained unknown. Meanwhile, fire crews continued to battle a fire at a shop and adjacent workshop in Forest Hill, causing traffic disruptions and affecting Forest Hill station commuters. Around 15 individuals were evacuated from nearby buildings, with no reported injuries so far.
As of 9:45 pm, parts of the ground floor shop, as well as the first and second floors, were still ablaze, along with a section of the single-story workshop behind the shop. Station Commander Anthony Lewis indicated that the firefighting efforts would be prolonged, with crews working through the night to completely extinguish the fire.
Residents in the vicinity were advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to smoke exposure, with a 25-meter cordon in place and significant traffic disruptions expected in the Forest Hill area, including the A205 South Circular Road. Rail services through Forest Hill station were also impacted by the incident. Southern Rail announced that trains would not stop at Forest Hill until further notice, with alternative services available between London Bridge and London Victoria via Easy Croydon, or local TFL Bus services.
The fire, which started around 6:30 pm at a shop on Perry Vale in Forest Hill, continued to be fought by fire crews on the scene. Investigations into the cause of the fire were underway as a precautionary cordon was established, leading to expected traffic congestion in the area. Multiple fire crews from the London Fire Brigade were deployed to assist in extinguishing the blaze, emphasizing the need for caution in the affected area.