A warehouse fire in west London has been brought under control, according to the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
The incident occurred at a two-story structure on Bridge Road in Southall, igniting shortly before 09:00 GMT on Tuesday. The blaze was soon classified as a major incident due to concerns that fireworks might have been stored within the building.
As a safety measure, residents of a nearby apartment complex and three local schools were evacuated. However, by Tuesday evening, residents were allowed to return home, and the schools are scheduled to reopen soon.
Firefighters continue to work at the site to fully extinguish the fire, leading to ongoing road closures and a large safety cordon.
LFB has advised local residents to keep their doors and windows shut as an additional safety measure.
On Tuesday afternoon, over 150 firefighters battled the intense flames, which eventually caused the roof to cave in. Thick clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky, visible from several miles away.
Approximately 100 evacuated residents were accommodated at a rest center set up by Ealing Council.
LFB is investigating the potential presence of fireworks in the warehouse as part of the inquiry into the incident.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
