A major incident declared during yesterday’s warehouse fire in Southall has now been stood down, after explosions forced firefighters to withdraw and more than 1,000 people were evacuated.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, who led the response, said the blasts were “likely caused by cylinders and fireworks stored inside the building,” prompting additional crews to be sent to the scene and nearby properties to be cleared as a precaution.

Three schools and a residential block were among those evacuated. The Dominion Centre (UB2 4BQ) was used as a rest centre for affected residents and school pupils.

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A major incident was declared at 12:20pm on 25 November, with all firefighters ordered to withdraw to a safe distance. Crews continued tackling the blaze from behind safety cordons throughout the afternoon.

The major incident was stood down at 6:02pm, and residents were later able to return to their homes.

This morning, London Fire Brigade confirmed the fire is under control. In an update issued at 6:43am on 26 November, the Brigade said:

“The fire in Southall is under control. We've reduced our presence at the site, and firefighters are working to fully extinguish the remaining pockets of fire.”

Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene throughout the day. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.