Huge Fire Breaks Out at Central London Electrical Substation

A large-scale fire erupted early Tuesday morning at an electrical substation located on Victoria Passage in Aberdeen Place, near Paddington, causing thick black smoke to fill the skies over central London.

Eyewitnesses described towering flames and plumes of dense smoke visible from miles away, as the blaze also spread to the roof of a nearby residential property. Firefighters quickly launched a full-scale response, utilizing a 32-metre aerial ladder to douse the flames from above.

London Fire Brigade confirmed that around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were dispatched to the scene following the first emergency call at approximately 5:29am. More than 170 calls flooded the 999 control centre as worried residents and commuters spotted the inferno.

So far, forty residents have been safely evacuated from a nearby block of flats. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Dramatic footage from outside Paddington Station shows heavy grey smoke rising into the sky, stunning early morning commuters. Another video, filmed closer to the site, captures aggressive flames as black smoke obscures the morning light.

Fire crews from several surrounding stations, including Paddington and Euston, are battling the fire, which still remains active. Station Commander Paul Morgan urged nearby residents to remain indoors, saying: “This is a very visible fire and there is lots of smoke. Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut.”

The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, with London Fire Brigade confirming that an electrical transformer is at the heart of the blaze.

Maida Vale, St John’s Wood, Warwick Avenue, and Harrow Road have all been affected by the smoke as the fire response continues.