Erith fire: 40 firefighters battle blaze at industrial plant after 'huge explosion'

Ewan Somerville19 June 2020

Around 40 firefighters are battling a blaze at an industrial plant in south-east London amid reports of a "huge explosion".

Six fire engines are at the scene along with paramedics at the unit on Church Manorway in Erith, while an air ambulance was also scrambled.

London Fire Brigade was called at 9.13am and said part of the building is currently alight.

One Twitter user posted a video showing large plumes of smoke rising from the building, adding: "I work opposite explosion was huge our building shook we ran out to see this."

Three people have been taken to hospital, London Ambulance Service confirmed.

An LAS spokesperson said: “We dispatched a number of ambulance crews and specialist response teams to the scene, including our hazardous area response unit (HART). We also dispatched a London’s Air Ambulance trauma team.

“We are working closely with other members of the emergency services at the scene. We have treated three people and taken them to hospital.

“We remain on the scene as a precaution.”

Crews from Erith, Wennington, Bexley, Plumstead and East Greenwich fire stations are on scene, and 20 calls to 999 have been received.

The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.