Residents living near the site of a significant explosion that followed a fire at an electrical substation close to Heathrow Airport have reported experiencing a day and night of substantial upheaval.
The incident resulted in the airport shutting down, approximately 67,000 homes losing power overnight, and over 100 individuals being evacuated after a transformer at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, west London, caught fire.
Some evacuees have expressed dissatisfaction with the response and communication from Hillingdon Council and other agencies involved.
In response, the council stated that the moment it learned of the fire, the “London Resilience Partnership protocols were promptly activated, ensuring extensive coordination among all involved entities,” which included the fire service and police.
They emphasized that the emergency services were in charge of the response, with council support and involvement from other agencies.
While most evacuees found their own accommodations, the council indicated it assisted 12 individuals by providing hotel lodging.
Matthew Muirhead, who was on a night shift Thursday, witnessed smoke coming from the electrical substation. “We saw a bright flash of light, and all the lights in town went out,” recounted the 42-year-old. “At around 11:30 PM, we were headed to West Drayton and decided to check it out after hearing sirens near Bulls Bridge roundabout. My wife called to inform me that our electricity was out, and I later learned that Heathrow had completely shut down.”
Another local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, mentioned she heard a “huge explosion” just before midnight. “All power went out, and there was a strong smell of burning,” she described.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that 29 residents were safely evacuated from nearby homes after the fire, while an additional 150 were relocated to a rest center.
Katrina Clements, 72, shared her experience with BBC Radio London, explaining that she and her 82-year-old husband were asleep when they were awakened by knocking and told to evacuate. Once outside, she noticed “a large crowd on the road” drawn to the fire. “We just want to return home,” she stated.
Following the evacuation, Clements expressed frustration over the lack of communication from authorities, labeling the situation as a “fiasco.” She noted that, although the council attempted to arrange hotel accommodations, they felt abandoned. “We were just left on the street,” she remarked, highlighting the plight of families with young children who were instructed to leave without any assurance of safety. “While I understand the need to evacuate due to safety concerns, there should have been a coordinated effort to ensure we were relocated somewhere safe.”
According to Vaneca Sinclair, the information provided by the council and police during the night was confusing. After evacuation, officers instructed them to return home for essentials before leaving again, but there was no guidance on where to go, ultimately leading them to walk to a hotel for hot drinks and restroom access.
Independent MP for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell, expressed his shock and concern regarding the challenges faced by local residents. “Questions need to be raised about the council’s response to this incident,” he asserted. “While I don’t want to be overly critical, I believe there is a need for improvement in their performance, as many residents felt uninformed for far too long.”
A spokesperson for Hillingdon Council countered, stating, “To suggest that our response has been slow is both unjust and entirely incorrect. From the moment we were alerted, our emergency protocols were engaged, and our teams worked diligently with partner agencies throughout the night to ensure residents remained safe, supported, and informed. We have maintained a significant presence in the affected community and have been keeping residents updated through our website, social media, and community outreach channels, as well as assisting those who contacted our center.”
The Metropolitan Police has been contacted for further comments.
This report includes contributions from PA Media.
The post Chaos Erupts Near Heathrow: Residents Describe Night of Fear and Frustration After Electrical Substation Explosion first appeared on London.
—-
Author : London News
Publish date : 2025-03-23 15:59:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.