A significant fire at an electrical substation in Hayes has led to the closure of Heathrow Airport and the evacuation of local residents, causing widespread disruption.
A significant incident occurred in Hayes, west London, late on Thursday night when a fire broke out at the Hayes electrical substation, resulting in substantial disruption at Heathrow Airport and surrounding areas. The fire prompted a closure of the airport, the busiest in the UK, for safety reasons, leading to the cancellation of over 200,000 passenger flights scheduled for Friday.
Witnesses reported a dramatic event, including “a massive explosion” heard just before midnight, as described by a local resident who opted to remain anonymous. Matthew Muirhead, who was working a night shift nearby, recounted, “We saw a bright flash of white and all the lights in town went out,” referring to the moment he noticed smoke rising from the substation around 11.30pm.
In the aftermath of the fire, authorities evacuated around 150 individuals from the affected vicinity, as the London Fire Brigade responded to the blaze. The incident also left nearly 100,000 homes without electricity overnight, although this number had decreased to approximately 4,000 by Friday afternoon. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband confirmed the progress in restoring power following the fire, which was ultimately brought under control.
Emergency services, including hazardous area response teams and an incident response officer, were deployed to the scene on Roseville Road. Pat Goulbourne, the fire service’s assistant commissioner, stated that scientific advisers had been engaged to monitor air quality due to the significant smoke emanating from the incident. Residents were “strongly advised” to keep windows and doors closed as a precautionary measure.
Hillingdon Council reported that most of the evacuees had found their own accommodations by Friday morning, although the council was assisting 12 individuals with hotel arrangements until they could safely return to their homes. Additionally, six local schools were closed as a result of the fire, including Nestles Avenue Early Years Centre, Pinkwell Children’s Centre, and Botwell House Catholic Primary School, among others.
Despite the scale of the fire and its immediate impact, the London Ambulance Service reported no casualties or injuries directly related to the blaze. The area surrounding the electrical substation continues to be monitored by emergency responders, with ongoing assessments to ensure the safety of local residents.
Authorities continue to advise individuals to avoid the vicinity of Hayes and to stay indoors if they live close by as clean-up and safety operations are conducted in the aftermath of this incident.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayes_substation_fire – This URL supports the claim of a fire at the Hayes electrical substation, its impact on Heathrow Airport, and the evacuation efforts. It details the response by emergency services and the effects on local residents.
- https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/fire-at-hayes-electrical-substation-causes-heathrow-airport-closure.html – This article corroborates the fire’s impact on Heathrow Airport and the surrounding area, including power outages and evacuations. It also mentions the efforts by the London Fire Brigade to contain the fire.
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/21/fire-rages-electrical-substation-hayes/ – This news piece provides details about the fire at the North Hyde electrical substation in Hayes, including the response by firefighters and the scale of the power outage in the area.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This source is mentioned as the original article’s source, though it does not directly provide additional information beyond what is described in the article itself.
- https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/news/2025-news/march-2025/fire-at-hayes-substation/ – This would typically be a London Fire Brigade news page that could provide official updates on the fire, though it is not directly available in the search results.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative appears to be recent, given the specific details about a fire at Heathrow and its impact on flights. However, without a specific date mentioned in the narrative, it’s difficult to confirm its exact freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes are provided from local residents and officials, but without specific online sources to verify them, it’s challenging to confirm their originality. However, the context suggests they might be original to this incident.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Irish News, which is a reputable publication. This generally suggests a high level of reliability in reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the fire and its impact on Heathrow Airport and local residents are plausible given the context and details provided. The involvement of emergency services and the evacuation process align with typical responses to such incidents.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and well-documented, with quotes from local residents and officials. The source is reliable, and the claims are plausible. Overall, the information seems accurate and trustworthy.
