In brief
More than 16,000 houses are without power as firefighters continue to battle the flames at North Hyde substation, with disruptions expected to increase throughout Friday.
In the early hours of March 21, 2025, a blaze erupted at the North Hyde substation, critically impacting power supply for Heathrow Airport and the surrounding areas of western London. By 4 a.m., the London Fire Brigade confirmed that approximately half of a transformer was still engulfed in flames, prompting concerns of escalating disruptions throughout the day.Pat Goulbourne, assistant commissioner at the brigade, emphasized the extended nature of the incident, noting, "This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night." With over 16,000 homes experiencing outages as reported by Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks, authorities are urging residents to avoid the vicinity of the fire.Approximately 70 firefighters have been deployed to combat the blaze, and photos shared on social media depict thick smoke billowing from the substation. In efforts to ensure public safety, about 150 individuals were evacuated from the area, with a 650-foot cordon established around the scene.As the cause of the fire remains unidentified, the situation continues to evolve, and further updates will be provided as firefighters make progress in containing the flames.
