Heathrow Airport, a bustling international hub, was forced to shut down temporarily on Friday due to a fire incident at a neighboring electricity substation. This unexpected event, confirmed by the airport’s management, disrupted operations across the facility.

Operations at Heathrow have been paused until 11:59 PM local time, with the full extent of flight cancellations or delays yet to be determined. This measure was taken as a precautionary response to the nearby fire.

Firefighting teams were deployed to the scene in Hayes, located in the western part of London, to combat the blaze, as highlighted in an official statement by the London Fire Brigade. The fire resulted in power outages affecting numerous businesses and residential areas; however, the exact number of those impacted remains unspecified.

Approximately 150 individuals were evacuated from the vicinity of the substation, according to Pat Goulbourne, an assistant commissioner with the Fire Brigade. The efforts of firefighters are expected to continue throughout the night.

Goulbourne has advised the public to avoid the area until morning, anticipating increased disruption as the situation unfolds. This ongoing event is a developing story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/world/europe/heathrow-airport-fire.html