Heathrow Airport Fire Causes Extensive Power Outage in London

London Fire Brigade is working to contain a significant fire at a substation affecting thousands of homes and Heathrow Airport operations.

 

In the early hours of Friday, March 21, 2025, a fire erupted at the North Hyde electrical substation, just two miles north of Heathrow Airport, resulting in the loss of power for over 16,000 residential customers in western London. The blaze was still active five hours later, with firefighters exhausting considerable resources to combat the flames.

By 4 a.m., about half of a transformer at the site remained ablaze, prompting warnings from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) that disruptions would escalate as the day progressed. “This will be a prolonged incident,” declared Pat Goulbourne, assistant commissioner at the LFB. “Crews will be on scene throughout the night, and as we move into morning, the level of disturbance is expected to rise. We recommend that individuals avoid the area if possible.”

About 70 firefighters were dispatched to battle the inferno, and thick smoke was visible in the vicinity, as depicted in photos shared by the LFB on social media. Local authorities have also evacuated around 150 residents, implementing a 650-foot cordon around the substation while efforts to secure the area and mitigate the fire continued. The cause of the fire is presently unknown, as investigations have yet to begin.