Big Fire / Power Cut

The place for serious discussion, announcements and breaking news about Sydenham
ALIB
Posts: 1553
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 21:34
Location: East Sussex

Big Fire / Power Cut

Post by ALIB »

Looking out my back window (from about 7.20am) I can see a moosive cloud of smoke coming from somewhere around Sydenham Park Road.


More updates later

ALib
Last edited by ALIB on 9 Jun 2008 02:48, edited 1 time in total.
intheknow
Posts: 5
Joined: 3 Oct 2007 20:14
Location: paradise

Post by intheknow »

it appears that the building connecting to the power station has exploded
ALIB
Posts: 1553
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 21:34
Location: East Sussex

Post by ALIB »

yep,just been down there. The elecricity substation next to the allotments and footbridge is mahoosively on fire still.

Alib
intheknow
Posts: 5
Joined: 3 Oct 2007 20:14
Location: paradise

Post by intheknow »

footbridge now closed fire brigade awating specialist equipment due to size and nature of electrical fire
ALIB
Posts: 1553
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 21:34
Location: East Sussex

Post by ALIB »

the police stopped me going onto the foot bridge to take pictures. A little OTT considering no lives were at risk (except perhaps waiting fire brigade persons).

At least me kettle and TV still work,...and of course the computer

Alib
Last edited by ALIB on 9 Jun 2008 06:17, edited 1 time in total.
ALIB
Posts: 1553
Joined: 12 Oct 2006 21:34
Location: East Sussex

Post by ALIB »

Wonder if this was part of the Forest Hill Day celebrations?

A bit of a spectacular firework display

Getting the emergency services involved

and a bit of an eco-message on how finite our resources are.

Alib
stuart
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Location: Lawrie Park
Contact:

Post by stuart »

We lost power in Lawrie Park about 8.45. EDF Emergency line is "experiencing high rates ... " and cuts off.

No morning cuppa here. Or anymore from me when the UPS is exhausted!

Stuart
pupak
Posts: 48
Joined: 18 Jan 2006 12:37
Location: SE26

Power gone on Kirkdale

Post by pupak »

Power went just before 9 this morning. Didn't realise what was happening till our son asked what the black smoke was outside the back window.

Humm, annoying thing is the freezer is full....
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2575
Joined: 20 Sep 2004 21:49

Post by admin »

Fergusson Family reposted by Admin (pictures coming soon):

Power is off all over Penge and Beckenham, even as far as the Homebase in Downham. it is a huge area off. You can see the smoke from Beckenham Hill, but I didn't know if the two were connected.

This is the only place on the Internet, TV and radio that I could find any information - well done Sydenham Town Forum!

Luckily, by some strange quirk, my power supply comes from Croydon.
sean
Posts: 279
Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

BBC UPDATE

Post by sean »

Thousands of homes across south London are without power after a fire at an electricity sub-station.

About 30 firefighters had to tackle the blaze which broke out at 0721 BST at the Sydenham Park Road sub-station in Forest Hill.

Two of the four transformers, located outside the building, are engulfed in flames. The power cut led to the failure of scores of traffic lights.

EDF energy said engineers are working to resolve the high-voltage power cut.

The areas affected by the power cut are Lewisham, Eltham, Sydenham, Brockley, Forest hill, Catford, Bromley, Beckenham, New Addington and Orpington.

Residents near Forest Hill have reported seeing flames and smoke.

BBC1, BBC2 and BBC London 94.9 also went off air in some parts of London at around that time.
sean
Posts: 279
Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

Post by sean »

If anyone has video call the newsdesk at BBC London on 0207-208-9290. Depending on the quality of the video, duration etc etc, they should pay around £70 for the footage.
admin
Site Admin
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Post by admin »

I'm just about to upload my first vids to YouTube. Let's see if we can beat the BBC!

Admin
sean
Posts: 279
Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

Post by sean »

Stuart, I have been told that BBC are keeping a close eye on this website at the moment. You are being watched! lol
admin
Site Admin
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Post by admin »

Sean - the first video is uploading - it is mighty slow. I have a whole series of sequence which I may upload and try and construct a narrative later. Oh how I wish I had your editing skills!.

Its also a bit difficult camped out on a floor with just a laptop ...

Admin
sean
Posts: 279
Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

Post by sean »

I'm in Cardiff at the moment otherwise I'd come over with the editing suite. This story will be covered on BBC London throughout tomorrow.
sean
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Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

Post by sean »

Image The fire affected traffic lights in the area. Picture by Leighton Grant
admin
Site Admin
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Joined: 20 Sep 2004 21:49

Post by admin »

Here's a couple of stills for Lawrie Park Road & Sydenham Park:

Image
Image

Admin
admin
Site Admin
Posts: 2575
Joined: 20 Sep 2004 21:49

Post by admin »

A couple more. I suspect most of the fire/black smoke is from the oil in the transformers. In the second you can see some of the electrical gear behind the fire:

Image
Image

Admin
sean
Posts: 279
Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

Post by sean »

Lisa Brown, who lives in Forest Hill, said: "The smoke was billowing and absolutely enormous. I live quite a way from the actual substation but you could see it for miles around. It was big, black, thick billows of smoke."
sean
Posts: 279
Joined: 1 Aug 2007 18:26
Location: Sydenham

Post by sean »

A statement from EDF Energy said power supplies in the area were shut down due to the fire:

"Supplies were isolated for safety reasons. London Fire Service along with EDF Networks staff are on site, but at the moment they are unable to access the site to asses the damage. As a result, they are unable to say how many people may be affected. They are liaising with the fire service and would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience."
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