Fire at an electrical substation in Hayes: A fire at an electrical substation that supplies the airport resulted in a “significant power outage”. This left thousands of houses without electricity, forcing London’s Heathrow Airport to remain closed until midnight on Friday. Heathrow Airport warned all passengers not to go to the airport in a message posted on its website and disseminated on social media.
Heathrow Airport will be closed until midnight due to a significant fire at a nearby electrical substation. A representative informed travellers of the “significant power outage across the airport” and advised them to avoid the area.
A statement said: “Whilst fire crews are responding to the incident, we do not have clarity on when power may be reliably restored.
“To maintain the safety of our passengers and colleagues, we have no choice but to close Heathrow until 23h59 on 21 March 2025.”
“We expect significant disruption over the coming days and passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens,” the statement added.
The fire at an electrical substation in west London has caused more than 100 people to be evacuated, and over 16,000 homes are without power.
Ten fire engines and over 70 firemen were on the scene at Nestles Avenue in Hayes when the London fire department reported that a transformer within the substation was on fire.
A 200-meter perimeter has been established as a precaution, and some 150 people have been evacuated from nearby buildings.
Pat Goulbourne, the assistant commissioner, stated: “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.
“The fire has caused a power outage affecting a large number of homes and local businesses, and we are working closely with our partners to minimise disruption.”
29 residents of nearby properties were escorted to safety by firefighters. With personnel from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall, and the surrounding districts on the scene, the brigade reported receiving close to 200 calls regarding the incident.
The Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks reported that Hayes, Hounslow, and the surrounding districts were experiencing a “widespread power cut.“
In a post on X, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks stated that around 16,300 houses were affected by a widespread power outage in the region.
“We’re aware of a widespread power cut affecting many of our customers around the Hayes, Hounslow and surrounding areas,” it said.
Pat Goulbourne, an assistant commissioner, stated that it would be “a prolonged incident.”
“As we head into the morning, disruption is expected to increase, and we urge people to avoid the area wherever possible,” he said.
The number of incoming flights that may need to be diverted is still unknown. Thousands of houses are thought to be without power as a result of the incident at a substation in Hayes, which is roughly 1.5 miles distant.
Heathrow is one of the busiest airports in the world with a record 83.9 million passengers last year and a jet landing or taking off almost every 45 seconds,
As travellers rush for information, Heathrow’s website is currently down. Some users are asking on X about potential detours and whether the airport has backup generators.
Overnight, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) reported that over 70 firefighters and 10 engines were present at the incident on Nestles Avenue. Although the cause is yet unknown, it stated that a transformer within the substation was on fire.
The initial call was received at 11:23 p.m., and LFB reported receiving over 190 calls regarding the event.
The “significant amount of smoke” has prompted residents to keep doors and windows closed.
According to a graphic on the company’s website, around 16,000 houses were impacted. The reaction involves firefighters from Heathrow, Hayes, Hillingdon, Southall, and other stations.
