Huge fire at Elephant and Castle in South London
London Fire Brigade is tackling a blaze in Elephant and Castle
Last updated 28th Jun 2021
Firefighters are tackling a large fire in Elephant and Castle in South London.
The fire appears to have started beneath railway arches near the station, with London Fire Brigade tweeting to say it believes the fire started at some garages close to the train station.
Video footage shows an explosion and a huge plume of smoke can be seen billowing above the area.
In a tweet, the fire brigade said: “We have 10 fire engines & 70 firefighters attending & have taken nearly fifty 999 calls. Please avoid the area.”
Sara Scarpa, 25, lives in nearby apartment building Hurlock Heights and said smoke and the noise of the explosion had reached her window.
“We opened the window for a sec as you could hear people shouting, and we smelt something very very strong,” she said.
“The smoke (was) dying down a little… we heard an explosion and now it started again.”
The fire's effect on trains in London
The LFB said the nearby train station has been closed.
Transport For London (TFL) has said the Northern Line is not stopping at Elephant and Castle tube station as a result of a fire that has broken out nearby.
A TFL spokesman said the fire occurred close to the station on Monday afternoon, and that the entrance to the Northern Line cannot be accessed.
Thameslink said all lines through Elephant and Castle are currently blocked due to the fire.
Services between St Albans and Sutton and London Blackfriars and Sevenoaks are affected.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“My thoughts are with all those affected by the very serious fire in Elephant and Castle. I am in close contact with the Fire Commissioner.
“I want to thank our brave emergency services - the London Fire Brigade, Met Police, London Ambulance Service and British Transport Police, who acted quickly to ensure both residents and passengers at the nearby station were safely evacuated.
“The fire is now under control. Two people, one police officer and one member of the public are being treated for smoke inhalation. I wish them and others affected a speedy recovery.
“I urge the public to avoid the area whilst our firefighters and emergency services continue their work in the area. There are significant road closures in place and the tube station is shut.
“If you live nearby, please follow the advice from London Fire Brigade and close all doors and windows.”