Big Fire / Power Cut

[ALIB]

Looking out my back window (from about 7.20am) I can see a moosive cloud of smoke coming from somewhere around Sydenham Park Road.


More updates later

ALib

[intheknow]

it appears that the building connecting to the power station has exploded

[ALIB]

yep,just been down there. The elecricity substation next to the allotments and footbridge is mahoosively on fire still.

Alib

[intheknow]

footbridge now closed fire brigade awating specialist equipment due to size and nature of electrical fire

[ALIB]

the police stopped me going onto the foot bridge to take pictures. A little OTT considering no lives were at risk (except perhaps waiting fire brigade persons).

At least me kettle and TV still work,...and of course the computer

Alib

[ALIB]

Wonder if this was part of the Forest Hill Day celebrations?

A bit of a spectacular firework display

Getting the emergency services involved

and a bit of an eco-message on how finite our resources are.

Alib

[stuart]

We lost power in Lawrie Park about 8.45. EDF Emergency line is "experiencing high rates ... " and cuts off.

No morning cuppa here. Or anymore from me when the UPS is exhausted!

Stuart

[pupak]

Power went just before 9 this morning. Didn't realise what was happening till our son asked what the black smoke was outside the back window.

Humm, annoying thing is the freezer is full....

[admin]

Fergusson Family reposted by Admin (pictures coming soon):

Power is off all over Penge and Beckenham, even as far as the Homebase in Downham. it is a huge area off. You can see the smoke from Beckenham Hill, but I didn't know if the two were connected.

This is the only place on the Internet, TV and radio that I could find any information - well done Sydenham Town Forum!

Luckily, by some strange quirk, my power supply comes from Croydon.

[sean]

Thousands of homes across south London are without power after a fire at an electricity sub-station.

About 30 firefighters had to tackle the blaze which broke out at 0721 BST at the Sydenham Park Road sub-station in Forest Hill.

Two of the four transformers, located outside the building, are engulfed in flames. The power cut led to the failure of scores of traffic lights.

EDF energy said engineers are working to resolve the high-voltage power cut.

The areas affected by the power cut are Lewisham, Eltham, Sydenham, Brockley, Forest hill, Catford, Bromley, Beckenham, New Addington and Orpington.

Residents near Forest Hill have reported seeing flames and smoke.

BBC1, BBC2 and BBC London 94.9 also went off air in some parts of London at around that time.

[sean]

If anyone has video call the newsdesk at BBC London on 0207-208-9290. Depending on the quality of the video, duration etc etc, they should pay around £70 for the footage.

[admin]

I'm just about to upload my first vids to YouTube. Let's see if we can beat the BBC!

Admin

[sean]

Stuart, I have been told that BBC are keeping a close eye on this website at the moment. You are being watched! lol

[admin]

Sean - the first video is uploading - it is mighty slow. I have a whole series of sequence which I may upload and try and construct a narrative later. Oh how I wish I had your editing skills!.

Its also a bit difficult camped out on a floor with just a laptop ...

Admin

[sean]

I'm in Cardiff at the moment otherwise I'd come over with the editing suite. This story will be covered on BBC London throughout tomorrow.

[sean]

The fire affected traffic lights in the area. Picture by Leighton Grant

[admin]

Here's a couple of stills for Lawrie Park Road & Sydenham Park:




Admin

[admin]

A couple more. I suspect most of the fire/black smoke is from the oil in the transformers. In the second you can see some of the electrical gear behind the fire:




Admin

[sean]

Lisa Brown, who lives in Forest Hill, said: "The smoke was billowing and absolutely enormous. I live quite a way from the actual substation but you could see it for miles around. It was big, black, thick billows of smoke."

[sean]

A statement from EDF Energy said power supplies in the area were shut down due to the fire:

"Supplies were isolated for safety reasons. London Fire Service along with EDF Networks staff are on site, but at the moment they are unable to access the site to asses the damage. As a result, they are unable to say how many people may be affected. They are liaising with the fire service and would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience."