Heathrow Airport Closed Following Electrical Substation Fire in West London
Significant power outage impacts thousands of homes and leads to emergency evacuations.
Heathrow Airport is closed until midnight on March 21, 2025, following a major electrical outage caused by a fire at a nearby electrical substation in Hayes, West London.
The blaze, which occurred at the North Hyde electrical substation, has reportedly left over 16,300 homes without power and necessitated the evacuation of more than 150 residents from surrounding properties.
Emergency services responded to calls at approximately 11:23 PM on Thursday after reports of a transformer fire.
The London Fire Brigade deployed ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze.
According to Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, fire crews are facing challenging conditions as they work to control the fire, which has resulted in extensive flames and smoke visible in the area.
As a precaution, a 200-metre cordon has been established around the site of the fire to ensure public safety.
Firefighters successfully evacuated 29 individuals to safety from nearby structures.
The incident has led to significant disruptions, not only at the airport but also within the community as local businesses are affected by the power outage.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the widespread power outage, stating that the incident has impacted a considerable number of residents in Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby areas.
The company has received nearly 200 calls related to the outage and is working to restore power, though no timeline for restoration has been provided.
A Heathrow spokesperson issued a statement advising passengers not to approach the airport and to get in touch with their airlines for further information.
The airport has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and emphasized its commitment to passenger safety.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and firefighters are expected to remain on site throughout the night to extinguish remaining flames and monitor the situation as it develops.
As the morning approaches, officials have advised the public to avoid the area, anticipating that disruption may escalate.
The blaze, which occurred at the North Hyde electrical substation, has reportedly left over 16,300 homes without power and necessitated the evacuation of more than 150 residents from surrounding properties.
Emergency services responded to calls at approximately 11:23 PM on Thursday after reports of a transformer fire.
The London Fire Brigade deployed ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters to tackle the blaze.
According to Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, fire crews are facing challenging conditions as they work to control the fire, which has resulted in extensive flames and smoke visible in the area.
As a precaution, a 200-metre cordon has been established around the site of the fire to ensure public safety.
Firefighters successfully evacuated 29 individuals to safety from nearby structures.
The incident has led to significant disruptions, not only at the airport but also within the community as local businesses are affected by the power outage.
Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks confirmed the widespread power outage, stating that the incident has impacted a considerable number of residents in Hayes, Hounslow, and nearby areas.
The company has received nearly 200 calls related to the outage and is working to restore power, though no timeline for restoration has been provided.
A Heathrow spokesperson issued a statement advising passengers not to approach the airport and to get in touch with their airlines for further information.
The airport has expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and emphasized its commitment to passenger safety.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, and firefighters are expected to remain on site throughout the night to extinguish remaining flames and monitor the situation as it develops.
As the morning approaches, officials have advised the public to avoid the area, anticipating that disruption may escalate.