More than 100 firefighters, along with 15 fire engines, fought a large fire at a Poundland store in London early this morning. The fire broke out on the ground floor of the shop located on High Street in Penge at 4:30 am.
Adjacent buildings were evacuated while fire crews worked to extinguish the blaze at the two-story shop using a water tower to douse the flames from above. The public was advised to steer clear of the area until the fire was brought under control.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that the fire was contained by 8:48 am. However, High Street remained closed, causing disruptions throughout the day.
According to a statement from the London Fire Brigade, approximately 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines responded to the incident. A significant portion of the ground floor of the two-story shop was ablaze. A 32-meter turntable ladder was utilized as a water tower to aid in extinguishing the fire from above. About 25 individuals from neighboring properties were evacuated as a precaution, and residents were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Brigade’s fire investigators.
Visuals from the scene captured intense flames engulfing the building in the early hours, with subsequent images revealing the aftermath of the fire at the Poundland store. Black smoke billowed from the site, prompting the public to avoid the area if possible.
Several individuals took to social media to share their accounts of the incident, with one person posting a picture of firefighters using a 32-meter turntable ladder to tackle the flames. Another individual mentioned seeing smoke from the fire in Penge while in Merton at sunrise.
A Poundland spokesperson expressed concern over the incident, thanking the swift response of the fire service and pledging cooperation with authorities. Further updates will be provided as information becomes available.
