West Drayton fire London Paddington trains cancelled after huge blaze at coal depot sends black

Publish date: 2022-05-25

FIREFIGHTERS are battling a huge blaze at a coal depot that's sent plumes of black smoke into the sky near Heathrow Airport.

Trains have been cancelled from Paddington station after the fire broke out in West Drayton.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing multiple explosions as 70 firefighters fought the inferno at the storage yard.

Dramatic footage posted online shows smoke filling the sky just north of Heathrow Airport.

A spokesperson for the airport said flights were still operating despite the heavy clouds of smoke blanketing the area.

Rail services out of Paddington station were cancelled just as the London Marathon came to a close.

About 70 firefighters rushed to the yard blaze after the alarm was raised just after 2pm.

EXPLOSIONS

One witness said on Twitter that her flat shook following the explosions.

Another said he had spotted nine fire engines at the scene.

London Fire Brigade station manager Jon Holt, who is at the scene said: "Six fire engines have been called to a fire at a warehouse in Wimpole Road in West Drayton.

"A container storage yard is alight.

"The fire is very visible and is producing a lot of smoke.

"Residents and businesses in the area should keep their windows and doors shut."

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The LFB added that control officers took more than 55 calls to the fire and around 15 people fled the yard before firefighters arrived.

A Met Police spokesman added that officers were assisting with road closures.

The cause of the blaze is not yet known.


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