A massive fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, in the United Kingdom, has caused a major power outage, forcing Heathrow Airport to shut down all operations for the entire day on Friday.
The airport, the busiest in the UK, cited the fire as the source of a “significant power outage,” disrupting its usual daily schedule of approximately 1,300 flights.
In an official statement, Heathrow confirmed that it would remain closed until 23:59 on March 21.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, Heathrow will be closed until 23:59 on 21 March,” the statement read.
The airport has urged passengers to avoid traveling there and to seek updates from their airlines.
“Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport and should contact their airline for further information. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Emergency responders, including ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade, were dispatched to combat the blaze, which has also left thousands of homes without electricity.
Reports indicated that more than 16,300 homes have been affected by the outage, while around 150 residents have been evacuated as a precaution.
Despite efforts to contain the fire, authorities remain uncertain about when full power will be restored.
A Heathrow spokesperson stated, “Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored,” adding that staff were working diligently to address the situation. They also emphasized that “Passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until it reopens.”
The London Fire Brigade has set up a 200-metre safety cordon around the affected area and advised residents to keep their doors and windows closed due to the heavy smoke.
Meanwhile, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks, the energy supplier for the area, acknowledged the widespread blackout.
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas,” the company stated on X.
Authorities received nearly 200 emergency calls about the fire, which ignited late on Thursday night.
Firefighters arrived at the scene at 23:23, but the cause remains unknown. LFB Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulborne highlighted the severity of the situation, explaining, “This is a highly visible and significant incident, and our firefighters are working tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.”
He also warned that operations to extinguish the fire would continue for an extended period.
“This will be a prolonged incident, with crews remaining on scene throughout the night,” he noted. As disruptions are expected to worsen throughout the morning, authorities are urging people to steer clear of the affected areas. “As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible.”
