By Ben Lynch Local Democracy Reporter
A fire which broke out in St John’s Wood yesterday morning left four flats ‘uninhabitable’ after an electrical substation went up in flames.
Around 100 firefighters were called to Aberdeen Place at about 5.30am responding to more than 170 reports to the blaze.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said roughly 100 residents had to be evacuated from their homes, some of whom have begun returning. The fire was in Victoria Passage, between Aberdeen Place and Fisherton Street.
Adele Dillon, 54, a resident in a nearby block, said she opened her curtains at six o’clock ‘to be greeted by the flames’.
Initially thinking it was her back fence on fire, she said: “But then I saw the flames coming in the side and I called the fire service, but they were already on the scene.”
She said she did not leave her home until around 7.20am, and was waiting with other residents at the Wharncliffe Gardens Community Centre throughout the afternoon. Ms Dillon was hopeful she would be able to return to her home later the same day.
Alice Bazzi, 36, who lives with her vulnerable mother, said she understands she was the first to call the brigade at 5.29am. “My mum woke me up saying there was a crackle,” she said, adding her mother had also been able to smell the fire.
Ms Bazzi said she also saw a “remnant of something” in the canal, and that she had been told a tyre had been set alight and thrown over at the substation, starting the fire.
A spokesperson for UK Power Networks, which operates the substation, said the fire had begun due to a fault on a piece of equipment.
Ms Bazzi added that while the brigade’s initial response attending to the scene was fairly quick, “the aftermath of it wasn’t as good”.
She said she was frustrated by how long it took for the fire to be tackled and residents evacuated, which she said was not until about two hours after the LFB had arrived.
A spokesman said the control room received the first call at 5.29am and the first fire engine was on-site at 5.32am.
They added the evacuation began when it became apparent the fire was beginning to spread towards neighbouring properties, and that before crews could begin firefighting operations, the power supply to the substation had to be isolated.
Carmen Murano, 34, who lives with her daughter and husband, is one of those who will not be able to return to her home following the fire. She said: “The police came, they knocked on the door at 5.30am and then they asked us to shut the windows, and then they came back again asking us to get prepared in case we had to evacuate,” adding they left their home at around 7am.
Ms Murano said she is unsure what the family will do, and that she was awaiting an update on their situation.
A Westminster council spokeswoman said: “We have been supporting around 40 residents since they were evacuated from their homes. Two rest centres were immediately set up to provide residents with refreshments and support from housing and welfare officers. We will continue to offer support until those affected can return to their homes.”
A Met Police spokesperson said: “At 5.42am on Tuesday, April 29 we were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to a fire at an electricity substation in Victoria Passage, Maida Vale. Officers responded to support the emergency response which has required a number of nearby buildings to be evacuated.
“We remained on the scene in support of the London Fire Brigade working alongside partners including the local authority. We remain in close contact with the London Fire Brigade and UK Power Networks in relation to determining the cause of the fire.”
A UK Power Networks spokesperson said: “UK Power Networks was called to a fire at a substation in St John’s Wood, early this morning (April 29). This has not interrupted power supplies. Our teams are working with the fire service to make the equipment safe. This is an isolated incident and customers’ supplies were not impacted.”
Pictured top: The fire broke out at an electrical substation in Aberdeen Place at about 5.30am yesterday morning (Picture: LFB)
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