Dozens of homeowners were evacuated after around 70 firefighters were scrambled to a huge blaze in west London this evening.
The fire, which erupted less than two miles from Heathrow airport, and could be clearly seen from planes coming into land, involves trees, hedgerows, shrubs and decking at the rear of a number of properties on Hereford Road in Feltham.
Dramatic footage shows clouds of smoke – seen from neighbouring houses and even from the air – while another video shows raging orange flames burning through a back garden.
Some living near the area have reported hearing a loud explosion with one saying on social media: ‘Me and my dad heard a massive bang almost like a bomb or explosion’.
Station Commander Tamer Ozdemir, who is at the scene, said: ‘Firefighters have worked incredibly hard in hot, arduous conditions to stop the blaze spreading to nearby properties.
‘Their hard work has saved approximately 30 homes in Hereford Road.
‘Around 60 residents were evacuated due to the amount of smoke.
‘Our drone team is on scene assisting crews with identifying further hot spots in the surrounding woodland.’
Dramatic footage shows clouds of smoke – seen from neighbouring houses and even from the air – while another video shows raging orange flames burning through a back garden
The fire, which erupted less than two miles from Heathrow airport, and could be clearly seen from planes coming into land, involves trees, hedgerows, shrubs and decking at the rear of a number of properties on Hereford Road in Feltham
Some living near the area have reported hearing a loud explosion with one saying on social media: ‘Me and my dad heard a massive bang almost like a bomb or explosion’
The blaze involves trees, hedgerows, shrubs and decking at the rear of a number of properties on Hereford Road, London Fire Brigade said
Around 70 firefighters have been scrambled to a huge blaze in Feltham this evening
Bestselling author Robert Harris took to Twitter with footage of the fire as he landed at the UK’s biggest airport at around 5pm.
He said: ‘Coming in to land at Heathrow just before 5pm today. The scorched fields. The fire!’
Crews have removed a number of gas cylinders which were involved in the fire as some can explode when exposed to heat.
Some 44 calls were made to 999 from around 4.30pm, with crews from Hillingdon, Kingston, Southall, Surbiton, Tooting and surrounding fire stations at the scene.
The cause of the blaze is not known at this stage.
Local roads have been closed by emergency services in response to the fire, including the A312 Harlington Road East, which is shut at the junction of A312 Uxbridge Road. Traffic is also slow moving on diversion along Hanworth Road.
However, there is no disruption at Heathrow as a result, according to MyLondon.
A spokesman said that the fire is not affecting the airport’s operations with planes continuing to land and take off.
It is the second blaze to hit Feltham in a week after around 100 firefighters were called to tackle a grass fire on Monday.
On that occasion, a large plume of smoke could be seen shooting into the sky from a field near Hatton Road as a plane approaches the airport.
London Fire Brigade tweeted that around six hectares of grassland were alight and a ‘large amount’ of smoke was being produced.