A significant fire has broken out at an electrical substation in Westminster, sending thick plumes of smoke over north-west London and leaving residents in parts of St John’s Wood without power.
The London Fire Brigade was called to the scene at Victoria Passage, Aberdeen Place, NW8, at 5.29am this morning. In total, fifteen fire engines and approximately 100 firefighters have been deployed to tackle the blaze, which continues to rage several hours later.
Dramatic footage from the scene shows towering flames engulfing the substation, while teams of firefighters use specialist equipment, including a turntable ladder and a bulk foam unit, to try to bring the situation under control. A thick column of grey smoke has been seen rising above rooftops across much of north-west London, visible for several miles.
Emergency services have issued a warning to local residents, urging them to keep doors and windows firmly shut due to the intensity of the smoke. The fire has prompted over 160 calls to the London Fire Brigade’s 999 Control Centre, with concerned locals waking up to the sound of sirens and the sight of flashing lights in the early hours.
Station Commander Paul Morgan, who is leading the response on the ground, described the fire as “very visible” and emphasised the importance of residents taking precautionary measures. “This is a very visible fire and there is lots of smoke. Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut,” he said.
At this stage, the cause of the fire remains unknown and is expected to be subject to a full investigation once the blaze has been extinguished and the site declared safe. There have been no reports of injuries.
UK Power Networks, which is responsible for maintaining the electricity infrastructure in the area, confirmed that there has been a power outage affecting residents of Aberdeen Place and surrounding streets. A statement on their website reads: “We are receiving reports from other customers about a power cut in your area. Our engineers are working to restore power as quickly as possible.”
However, the company has not yet confirmed how many homes and businesses have been affected by the blackout, and it remains unclear how long it will take for electricity to be fully restored.
Firefighters from Paddington, Euston, and several nearby stations continue to battle the fire, which has proven challenging due to the nature of the equipment and materials involved. Electrical substations pose unique hazards due to the risk of explosions and chemical fumes, and crews are taking extra precautions while attempting to bring the incident under control.
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A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade added: “Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters are tackling a fire at an electrical substation on Victoria Passage, Aberdeen Place near Paddington NW8. The Brigade’s 999 Control officers have received over 160 calls alerting them to the blaze. Crews remain at the scene.”
Local traffic in the area has also been affected, with road closures and diversions in place while emergency services continue their work. Police officers are assisting with cordons and keeping the public away from the immediate danger zone.
Residents have been urged to remain indoors unless absolutely necessary, and further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
As of mid-morning, firefighters were still on the scene and making progress in containing the fire, though full extinguishment may take several more hours.
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