Heathrow shutdown: Firefighters and police investigating cause of fire
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The police in a cordoned off area where a fire broke out at a substation serving Heathrow Airport in Hayes, west London, on March 21.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – London firefighters are working with the police to investigate the cause of a huge fire at an electrical substation that shut down Heathrow Airport on March 21, a firefighting chief told reporters.
Huge orange flames and plumes of black smoke shot into the sky at around 11pm local time on March 20 as a blaze engulfed the substation.
“The fire involved a transformer comprising 25,000 litres of cooling oil fully alight,” said Mr Jonathan Smith, deputy commissioner at the London Fire Brigade.
“This created a major hazard due to the still live high-voltage equipment and the nature of the oil-fuelled fire.”
That forced Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, to shut, disrupting flight schedules around the world and prompting speculation as to what had caused the blaze.
British Energy Minister Ed Miliband said earlier on March 21 that there was no suggestion foul play was involved.
When asked whether the police were investigating the cause of the fire as a possible terrorist incident, Mr Smith said he was unable to comment.
“All I can say is the Metropolitan Police are investigating the cause of this fire, ably assisted by our fire investigation officers,” he said.
Mr Smith said 10 per cent of the original fire remained alight and his officers were working to safely resolve the incident, adding that they would work with National Grid as they assess the site and attempt to restore power. REUTERS
