A major fire at an Erith industrial estate has escalated into one of the biggest in recent years, with 150 firefighters deployed overnight to contain the blaze that engulfed warehouses and vehicles. This marks another significant incident in a decade-long pattern of large-scale industrial fires in the area, prompting ongoing concerns over fire prevention and safety.
Around 150 firefighters have been deployed to tackle a massive late-night blaze at an industrial estate in Erith, London. The fire broke out shortly before 11 pm on a Friday, engulfing a warehouse, a crane, and several vehicles. The London Fire Brigade responded with 25 fire engines and three of their 32-metre turntable ladders, which were used to assess the situation from above and to douse the flames with water. The incident has prompted authorities to advise local residents to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke spreading in the area.
The industrial estate affected by the fire houses approximately 20 businesses, including garages, repair shops, and recycling centres. The London Fire Brigade described the incident as likely to be "protracted," with crews expected to remain on site through the night. As of now, the cause of the fire remains unknown.
This recent blaze is part of a broader pattern of significant industrial fires in the Erith and Bexley area over the past decade. For example, a similar incident in July 2021 saw around 100 firefighters battling a large fire at a three-storey warehouse on Church Manorway, which was divided into 30 loading bays. That fire required a sustained operation, with the blaze being brought under control by just after 2 am the following day. No injuries were reported, and the cause was under investigation at the time.
Another notable fire occurred in June 2021 at Viking Way in Bexley, where two industrial units were destroyed. Approximately 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were dispatched to manage the blaze, which was brought under control late at night. Again, no injuries were reported, and safety concerns such as gas cylinders threatened by the fire needed addressing to prevent explosions.
Going further back, a major warehouse fire in February 2015 in south-east London near Yarnton Way, Erith, required nearly 100 firefighters and 15 vehicles to bring under control. The blaze completely destroyed the warehouse and damaged nearby units and vehicles. The fire was treated as arson by the police, who appealed for information. Despite the scale of the fire and visible flames and smoke seen for miles, no injuries were reported. Firefighters worked diligently to prevent the fire from spreading to residential areas.
These recurring large-scale industrial fires in the Erith area highlight ongoing risks associated with warehouses and industrial facilities in the region. Each incident has mobilised significant emergency response resources and caused considerable disruption, though thankfully injuries have not been reported. Investigations into the causes often remain inconclusive or under review, underscoring challenges in fire prevention and safety at such sites.
As the current fire in Erith continues to be fought by a substantial number of firefighters, the priority remains extinguishing the blaze safely and minimising harm to people and property in the area. The London Fire Brigade has so far commended the swift multi-station response to the emergency, yet the prolonged nature of the fire means crews face a demanding operation ahead.
📌 Reference Map:
Source: Noah Wire Services
More on this
-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14898757/Crews-tackle-huge-late-night-blaze-industrial-estate.html - Please view link - unable to able to access data
-
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2021/july/warehouse-fire-erith/ - On 16 July 2021, a significant fire erupted at a warehouse on Church Manorway in Erith, London. Approximately 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines responded to the incident, which involved a large three-storey warehouse divided into 30 loading bays. The fire was deep-seated and challenging to control. Station Commander Steve Vydelingum reported that around 800 staff had evacuated before the Brigade's arrival, and there were no injuries. The fire was brought under control by 2:17 am on 17 July, with crews remaining on-site to dampen down hot spots. The cause of the fire was under investigation. ([london-fire.gov.uk](https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2021/july/warehouse-fire-erith/?utm_source=openai))
-
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2021/june/warehouse-fire-erith/ - On 20 June 2021, a fire broke out at a warehouse on Viking Way in Bexley, London. The London Fire Brigade dispatched 15 fire engines and approximately 100 firefighters to the scene. The single-storey warehouse contained several business units, and two industrial units were destroyed by the fire. Two people had evacuated the building before the Brigade's arrival, and there were no reports of injuries. Crews removed gas cylinders from the building and cooled them down to prevent explosions. The fire was under control by 11:32 pm, and the cause was under investigation. ([london-fire.gov.uk](https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2021/june/warehouse-fire-erith/?utm_source=openai))
-
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/bexley-and-bromley/news/100-firefighters-tackle-industrial-inferno-249309/ - On 20 June 2021, a massive fire engulfed warehouses near the River Thames in Viking Way, Erith. At its peak, over 100 firefighters and more than 15 vehicles were at the scene. The blaze was brought under control around 11:30 pm, several hours after crews arrived just after 6 pm. Firefighters remained on-site throughout the night to dampen down the area. Several businesses in the industrial estate were affected, with the flames initially focused around UK Fine Food Suppliers. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire was unknown. ([kentonline.co.uk](https://www.kentonline.co.uk/bexley-and-bromley/news/100-firefighters-tackle-industrial-inferno-249309/?utm_source=openai))
-
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/huge-fire-destroys-warehouse-in-london-in-blaze-seen-for-miles-around-london-10061219.html - In February 2015, a massive fire destroyed a warehouse in south-east London, with flames and smoke visible from miles away. Almost 100 firefighters took more than three hours to tackle the blaze, which completely destroyed a storage building in Yarnton Way, Erith. Two adjacent units and three lorries were also damaged. The London Fire Brigade received over 50 calls about the fire, which started around 2 am. The cause was undetermined, and no injuries were reported. Station Manager Norman Perry stated that crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to residential homes. ([independent.co.uk](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/huge-fire-destroys-warehouse-in-london-in-blaze-seen-for-miles-around-london-10061219.html?utm_source=openai))
-
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/huge-fire-in-south-east-london-lights-up-sky-and-destroys-erith-warehouse-10061172.html - In February 2015, a significant fire destroyed a warehouse in south-east London, with flames and smoke visible from miles away. Almost 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were called to tackle the blaze, which completely destroyed a storage warehouse in Erith. Police treated the incident as arson and appealed for information. The fire started around 2 am and was brought under control about three hours later. Station Manager Norman Perry stated that crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to residential homes. ([standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/huge-fire-in-south-east-london-lights-up-sky-and-destroys-erith-warehouse-10061172.html?utm_source=openai))
-
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-31564200 - In February 2015, a large fire destroyed a storage warehouse in south-east London. Up to 100 firefighters tackled the blaze at industrial units off Yarnton Way in Erith for more than three hours. Two adjacent units and three lorries were also damaged. The London Fire Brigade received more than 50 calls after the fire started just after 2 am. The cause of the fire was not known, and there were no reports of any injuries. Station Manager Norman Perry stated that crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading to residential homes. ([bbc.com](https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-31564200?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative reports on a recent fire at an industrial estate in Erith, London, with no prior reports found in the past seven days. The earliest known publication date of similar content is October 28, 2023, when the London Fire Brigade reported a scrapyard fire in Erith. ([london-fire.gov.uk](https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2023/october/scrapyard-fire-erith/?utm_source=openai)) This indicates that the current report is fresh and not recycled. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. The inclusion of updated data may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([london-fire.gov.uk](https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2023/october/scrapyard-fire-erith/?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes from the London Fire Brigade, such as:
> "The London Fire Brigade described the incident as likely to be 'protracted,' with crews expected to remain on site through the night."
A search for the earliest known usage of this quote reveals no matches, suggesting it is potentially original or exclusive content. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, and no variations in wording are found.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a reputable organisation. However, the Daily Mail has been flagged as blocked by robots.txt, which may affect the reliability of the source. The London Fire Brigade's official website is accessible and provides corroborative information. ([london-fire.gov.uk](https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2023/october/scrapyard-fire-erith/?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative reports on a significant fire at an industrial estate in Erith, London, with approximately 150 firefighters deployed. This is plausible, as the London Fire Brigade has previously responded to large-scale industrial fires in the area, such as the scrapyard fire on October 28, 2023. ([london-fire.gov.uk](https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2023/october/scrapyard-fire-erith/?utm_source=openai)) The report includes specific details, such as the number of firefighters and equipment used, which adds credibility. The tone and language are consistent with typical news reporting. However, the Daily Mail's blocked status raises some concerns about the source's reliability.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative reports on a recent fire at an industrial estate in Erith, London, with no prior reports found in the past seven days. The quotes used appear to be original, and the London Fire Brigade's official website provides corroborative information. However, the Daily Mail's blocked status raises concerns about the source's reliability. Given these factors, the overall assessment is OPEN with a MEDIUM confidence level.
Tags:
-
London Fire Brigade
-
Erith
-
industrial fire
-
emergency services
-
fire safety
