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A major fire has broken out near Forest Hill Station in South London, prompting one of the largest emergency responses seen in the area this year. Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters are tackling the blaze at a property on Perry Vale.
The fire is affecting a ground-floor shop with residential flats situated above, creating significant risk to residents. Emergency services have established a 25-metre cordon around the scene and are advising the public to avoid the area entirely.
London Fire Brigade said: "People in the local area are advised to keep windows and doors closed due to smoke travel. Significant traffic disruption can be expected in the Forest Hill area. The Brigade received the first of 49 calls at 1827 and Control Officers have mobilised crews from Forest Hill, Lewisham, Beckenham, West Norwood and surrounding fire stations to the scene."
Specialist equipment deployed
Firefighters are using a 32-metre turntable ladder as a water tower to extinguish the fire from above. London Fire Brigade has also deployed a drone to provide the Incident Commander with greater situational awareness, according to MyLondon.
The blaze has spread to a single-storey workshop at the rear of the shop. Emergency services are working to prevent further spread to adjacent properties in the busy commercial street.
Transport and community impact
Rail services through Forest Hill station are experiencing disruption due to the emergency response. The station serves as a major transport hub connecting South London to central areas.
Local residents report that the whole street has been evacuated as a precautionary measure, according to eyewitness accounts. The scale of the emergency response reflects the serious nature of the incident in this densely populated area.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. Video footage from the scene shows flames and significant smoke billowing from the building near the railway station.
Sources used: "Express", "MyLondon", "Mirror", "Daily Star" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
