A fire at an electrical substation in Hayes, West London, has caused a large-scale power outage and led to the closure of Heathrow Airport for the entire day.
As reported by media outlets, the London Fire Brigade responded to the incident late on Thursday night. Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines were deployed to the site on Nestles Avenue, where a transformer had caught fire.
The blaze disrupted the electricity supply to thousands of homes and affected key infrastructure, including Heathrow Airport, which remains closed.
Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest in the world, suspended operations until 23:59 on Friday, 21 March 2025.
According to airport officials, more than 1,300 flights scheduled to arrive or depart have been affected. Passengers were advised not to travel to the airport under any circumstances.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that 1,351 flights could be canceled. Some inbound international flights were diverted to other airports, including Gatwick, Paris, and Shannon.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that the fire was under control by 06:28 on Friday morning.
Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “This was a very visible and significant incident, and our firefighters worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to bring the fire under control as swiftly as possible.
“Thanks to their efforts and coordinated multi-agency response, we successfully contained the fire and prevented further spread.”
He added: “Due to the significant smoke, we strongly advise local residents to keep their windows and doors closed, as some smoke will remain for a number of hours today.
“Scientific advisors will also be on-site this morning to conduct further assessments and monitor the air quality.”
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said in media interviews that National Grid was responding to what he described as an “unprecedented event.” He added: “It appears to have knocked out a back-up generator as well as a substation itself.”
Power cuts affected more than 16,000 homes, according to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks. By 06:00 GMT, National Grid reported that electricity had been restored to 62,000 customers, with 4,900 still without power.
Residents in the area reported watching the flames overnight. Around 150 people were evacuated, and firefighters led 29 people to safety from neighboring buildings.
A 200-meter cordon was set up as a precaution. The fire brigade’s Control Officers handled over 200 emergency calls.
Fire investigators are working with the Metropolitan Police Service to determine the cause of the fire.
Emergency services were initially called to the scene at 23:23 on Thursday. Crews from Hayes, Heathrow, Hillingdon, Southall, and surrounding stations were mobilized.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage. The fire brigade has confirmed that teams will maintain a presence at the site to support the National Grid’s assessment work.
The closure of Heathrow Airport is likely to have significant implications for American travelers and the global aviation industry.
Heathrow is a major hub for transatlantic flights between the United States and Europe. Airlines such as American Airlines and British Airways operate numerous daily flights connecting U.S. cities to London.
With the airport’s closure, flights have been canceled or diverted, leading to disruptions for thousands of passengers.
The ripple effect of such a major hub’s shutdown is likely to extend beyond immediate flight cancellations.
Airlines must re-route aircraft, adjust crew schedules, and manage displaced passengers, which can strain resources and affect operations at other airports.
The incident illustrates the importance of infrastructure resilience. A single point of failure, such as the fire at the electrical substation, can lead to cascading effects impacting public safety, economic activity, and international travel.
It highlights the need for robust emergency response plans, inter-agency coordination, and investments in infrastructure to prevent and mitigate such incidents.
A fire broke out at an electrical substation on Nestles Avenue in Hayes, West London, at 23:23 on Thursday, 20 March 2025.
The fire involved a transformer and led to a major power outage across the region.
London Fire Brigade deployed 10 engines and approximately 70 firefighters.
The fire was declared under control by 06:28 on Friday.
Heathrow Airport closed all operations for the day as a result of the outage, with over 1,300 flights affected.
Power supply was disrupted to more than 16,000 properties.
At least 150 people were evacuated, including 29 who were led to safety by firefighters.
A 200-meter cordon was established.
The government confirmed that a back-up generator was also impacted.
