Shock at warehouse blaze

OWNER STRUGGLING TO COMPREHEND SCALE OF LOSS AT JOINERY BUSINESS

THE owner of a joinery looked on in “shock” the morning after a huge blaze took hold of a warehouse in Harrow.

More than 50 firefighters were sent to tackle the fire at a factory and offices in Chantry Place on Thursday night (September 14).

Almost 40 concerned residents called 999 after spotting the flames and huge plumes of smoke, while social media users reported hearing explosions.

Mr Pindoria, the owner of Pacest Joinery, expressed his concerns for his 14 employees who are now without work as he watched firefighters dampen down debris.

He told the Gazette’s sister website Get West London: “I had a phone call after the alarm went off last night at about 11.30pm and I came here straight away.

“I came back again this morning and have been here watching since 7.30am. I feel so sorry for my workers.

“Some are still here with me and some I’ve sent home as obviously there’s nothing they can do Their tools are in there and their whole livelihood is gone with it.

“I’m just struggling to comprehend what has happened. “I’m just in shock. “It’s a manufacturing joinery, and there’s a lot of timber and materials in there.

“I’m worried about all the equipment too, and what state it’s going to be in.

“There’s some expensive machinery in there.”

Police cordons were in place on Friday (September 15) while London Fire Brigade worked to dampen down the debris and make the area safe, and Network Rail staff carried out repair works.

Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters worked to tackle the blaze, which destroyed the twostorey building, until just after 3.15am on Friday morning.

London Fire Brigade confirmed that 12 people were evacuated from nearby properties as a precaution, and a cordon was put in place as there were cylinders involved.

Station Manager Jason Jones, who was at the scene, said: “We had a very well developed fire which was extremely visible from quite a way out.

“There were propane cylinders involved so a hazard zone was set up as cylinders can explode when exposed to heat.

“The site is next to Headstone Lane train station and trains were stopped.

“Crews worked very hard through the night at this challenging incident to bring the fire under control.”

Network Rail were left with a “big job” to do in order to make the area safe enough for trains to run. A Network Rail spokesman said: “A fire overnight at a timber yard in Harrow has damaged a trackside retaining wall.

“It will need to be dismantled, made safe and rebuilt. This is a big job expected to take all day.

“The West Coast main line will remain shut between Euston and Milton Keynes while these repairs are made.

“Passengers wanting to travel on the West Coast Main Line and West London Line are urged to check with their train operator or the National Rail website before travelling.

“They will be diverted on alternative routes.” .“