A large fire broke out at a building under renovation on Blackfen Road in Sidcup, prompting a major response from London Fire Brigade (LFB) on Monday afternoon.
Twelve fire engines and approximately 80 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze, which affected a shop with flats above. The fire spread across the ground floor, first floor and roof of the building, also impacting part of the roof of an adjacent property.
Due to the severity of the fire, the first floor of the affected building collapsed. Fortunately, there are currently no reports of any injuries.
Station Commander Steve Howlett, who was at the scene, described the fire as “very visible”, adding:
“This was a very visible fire which produced a significant amount of smoke in the area. We advised people who live and work nearby to keep windows and doors closed.
“One of our new 32-metre turntable ladders was used as a water tower to tackle the flames from above.”
Emergency services were called after the Brigade’s Control Officers received nearly 30 calls about the incident. Crews from Eltham, Lee Green, Sidcup, East Greenwich and surrounding stations were quickly mobilised.
The fire was brought under control by 4:39pm, but firefighters remain on the scene to dampen down and ensure the area is safe.
Blackfen Road remains closed, and bus services in the area are continuing to experience disruption. Commuters and residents are advised to avoid the area while crews finish securing the site.
The cause of the fire is not yet known and remains under investigation.
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