Around 100 firefighters tackle major waste facility fire in Deptford

Around 100 firefighters spent more than six hours tackling a major fire at a waste facility in Deptford overnight.

Fifteen fire engines were called to the blaze on Landmann Way, where around 50 tonnes of household waste caught fire.

The London Fire Brigade said the structure of the waste facility was severely damaged during the incident.

Firefighters faced difficult conditions while bringing the blaze under control, with two of the Brigade's aerial appliances used to tackle the flames from above.

Speaking from the scene, Station Commander Duncan Rees said:

"Crews worked hard in difficult conditions to bring the fire under control. One of the Brigade's 32m ladders and a 64m ladder were used as water towers to tackle the flames from above.

"Whilst the fire is under control, crews will remain on scene into the morning and afternoon as they work to extinguish the remaining pockets of fire."

More than 160 calls to London Fire Brigade

The Brigade received the first of more than 160 calls reporting the fire at 7.59pm on Tuesday evening (18 August).

Crews from East Greenwich, Old Kent Road and Deptford, along with firefighters from surrounding stations, were sent to the scene.

The scale of the incident saw 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters involved in the response.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 2.16am on Wednesday (19 August), more than six hours after the first emergency call.

Crews remained at the site on Wednesday morning and were expected to continue working into the afternoon, extinguishing pockets of fire and damping down the affected area.

Rail lines closed as precaution

Nearby railway lines were closed as a precaution while emergency services dealt with the incident.

The fire and emergency response could be seen from across parts of Deptford and Greenwich during Tuesday evening, with the large number of calls received by the Brigade highlighting the visibility of the blaze.

The cause of the fire is not yet known and further investigations are expected to take place.