A substantial fire has ripped through a 13-storey building in east London, causing significant damage to a basement battery storage facility. The blaze broke out at a data centre located on Nutmeg Lane in the Blackwall area, with the incident reported just before 5am this morning.
Emergency Response and Damage Assessment
London Fire Brigade confirmed that the fire damaged a room storing around 200 LED acid batteries, all of which have been destroyed in the incident. The emergency response involved crews from multiple fire stations across east London, including Poplar, Millwall, Plaistow, Stratford, East Ham, and Greenwich.
Scale of the Firefighting Operation
The firefighting operation was substantial, with eight fire engines and approximately 60 firefighters deployed to tackle the blaze. The London Fire Brigade provided updates via social media, confirming their presence at the scene in the E14 postcode area.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire, which remains unclear at this stage. The building's primary function as a data centre adds complexity to the incident, given the sensitive equipment typically housed in such facilities.
Community Impact and Safety Concerns
While no injuries have been reported, the destruction of 200 LED acid batteries raises environmental and safety questions. Such batteries can contain hazardous materials, though specific details about potential contamination or cleanup operations have not yet been released by authorities.
The incident highlights the growing challenges of battery storage safety in urban environments, particularly in buildings housing critical infrastructure like data centres. London Fire Brigade continues to monitor the situation, with further information expected as their investigation progresses.
