Around 100 Firefighters Tackle SE London Shop Blaze

About 100 firefighters were deployed to combat a massive blaze that engulfed a shop in southeast London.

According to the London Fire Brigade (LFB), it took crews more than three hours to bring the flames under control at a store in Perry Vale, Forest Hill, as well as a workshop located behind it.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed firefighters outside Finches Emporium, a skiing and snowboarding store, as thick smoke and flames poured from the property and the flats above.

Roughly 15 people were evacuated from nearby buildings and taken to a rest centre for safety.

LFB said it received the first of 49 emergency calls at around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. Parts of the ground-floor shop, basement, first and second floors, along with a single-storey workshop at the rear, were all affected by the fire.

Fifteen fire engines and crews from Forest Hill, Lewisham, Beckenham, West Norwood, and nearby stations attended the scene. Two 32-metre turntable ladders were also used to fight the blaze from above.

Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to heavy smoke.

The fire was declared under control by 11:44 p.m., though the cause remains under investigation. No injuries have been reported.

Authorities have urged people to avoid the area, warning of transport disruptions.

Station Commander Anthony Lewis said crews would continue working through the night to completely extinguish the fire.

He added: “A 25-metre safety cordon is currently in place, and the public are advised to avoid the area. Significant traffic disruption is expected around Forest Hill, including the A205 South Circular Road, and rail services via Forest Hill station are also being impacted.”