Massive blaze at Maida Vale substation blankets part of London in smoke

A massive fire broke out at an electrical substation in Maida Vale, West London in the early hours of Tuesday. Firefighters responded to the blaze shortly after 5:30 am following over 170 emergency calls. The fire, which involved an electrical transformer, was also affecting the roof of a nearby residential building, reported Sky News.

The London fire brigade deployed around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines from nearby stations, including Paddington and Euston. "This is a very visible fire, which is producing lots of smoke," said station commander Paul Morgan, who was at the scene. He advised residents to keep their doors and windows shut and to avoid the area for safety.

Thick smoke was visible across parts of West London as emergency services worked through the morning to bring the fire under control. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

Firefighters are continuing to respond to the substation fire near Aberdeen Place, #MaidaVale.

The fire is producing a large amount of smoke and people in the local area are advised to keep doors and windows shut. https://t.co/etxgEK4SLZ

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 29, 2025

This is the second major substation fire in West London in recent weeks. In March, a fire at a substation near Heathrow Airport led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights. The metropolitan police later said that the incident was not being treated as suspicious.