125 firefighters tackle blaze at shopping centre
A MAJOR incident was declared today as 125 firefighters tackled a huge blaze at a shopping centre.
Emergency services rushed to The Mall complex in S el borne Walk, Walthamstow, after the fire broke out at about 7.40am.
The building was evacuated while residents were told to avoid the area.
Dramatic pictures showed thick black smoke billowing out of the building and flames lapping part of the roof, with the Metropolitan Police describing it as a “major incident”.
Fire crews from Walthamstow, Leyton, Tottenham, Leytonstone, Homerton and surrounding fire stations were sent to the scene.
A witness said: “It’s absolutely terrible to see. All the roof of the Mall is on fire.”
Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, said: “It appears there is a serious fire incident at the Mall this morning — please keep back from area and let’s help the fire brigade do their job.”
Andrew Goad, director of estate agent Stow Brothers close to the scene, said: “There has been a lot of bad coughing, there is so much smoke.
“We have a couple of headaches from the smoke inhalation.”
Elly Gresham-Scott said that as she passed the scene at around 8.25am the “air was hazy” with “quite large” ash particles floating in the air.
Freddie Joyce said that there were “massive high flames spreading at high speed”.
The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.
Station manager Steve Smith, from London Fire Brigade, said: “There is a lot of smoke so we would advise local residents to keep their doors and windows closed while crews tackle the fire.
“There are local road closures in place so motorists should avoid the area where possible.” A spokesman for the Met said: “Officers are dealing with a major incident on Selborne Road. Road closures are in place. Please avoid the area and The Mall.”
According to the centre’s website, there are 66 stores inside The Mall including TK Maxx, Asda, River Island and JD Sports. A spokesman for Capital & Regional, which runs The Mall, said they did not believe anyone had been hurt. He said: “It has been evacuated, so no one is currently on site.”
Transport for London said one entrance at Walthamstow Central station was closed due to the smoke but services were still running.
Walthamstow bus station was closed, with 11 bus routes on diversion.
Waltham Forest council said: “There will be significant disruption for some time.”