In brief
In the early hours of March 21, 2025, the London Fire Brigade battled a fierce blaze at the North Hyde substation, located just two miles from Heathrow Airport. Despite five hours of firefighting efforts, crews reported that half of a transformer was still engulfed in flames by 4 a.m. There is no immediate word on the cause of the fire, which has prompted warnings of increasing disruptions as the morning progresses.
The incident has left many passengers stranded and disrupted air travel as the substation plays a critical role in supplying power to Heathrow. Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks reported that power to over 16,000 homes was also impacted. London Fire Brigade's assistant commissioner, Pat Goulbourne, advised local residents to avoid the area due to ongoing firefighting operations that involved around 70 firefighters.Emergency services evacuated approximately 150 people from nearby areas, and a cordon was established around the site, extending 650 feet from the substation. Thick smoke was visible rising from the location as crews continued to work through the night in an effort to bring the blaze under control. The situation remains ongoing as investigators look into the cause of this unexpected disruption in the heart of London.
