DOZENS of people have been evacuated from their homes after an electrical substation in London erupted into flames.
Around 100 firefighters continue to battle the blaze as black smoke plumes into the air from the scene in Victoria Passage, Aberdeen Place in Maida Vale.
Around 80 residents have since been forced out of a neighbouring block of flats after part of the roof also set alight - while some properties in the area have suffered blackouts.
London Fire Brigade said it received more than 170 calls about the incident, which began at 5.29am.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters have been called to the scene this morning.
One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders is being used at the scene to tackle the fire from above.
The blaze was caused by faulty equipment, the UK Power Network has said.
A spokesperson for the UK Power Network has said: "The cause (of the fire) was a fault on a piece of equipment in our substation."
Dramatic footage shows a crew watching the flames rip through the station.
Other video sees a crowd gathering outside the cordon.
Dionne Braniff was one of the first people to wake up when the blaze struck.
She told The London Standard: “I just started running around, knocking on all the doors, saying ‘fire!’ to everyone to get everyone out because no one else was here yet.
“Some people were still in bed and didn’t hear it.
“The firemen then started to filter in. We started gathering everyone outside — and we have a lot of older people here — and people didn’t really know what was going on."
Alice Bazzi, 36, said her mother Fatima, 71, woke her shortly before 5.30am saying she could smell fire.
Speaking outside the Wharncliffe Gardens Community centre where evacuated residents have gathered, Ms Bazzi said: "I spoke to the police and asked, 'should we not be evacuating people?' They said 'not yet'.
"It's getting worse, then they're like 'No, it's actually OK'. It's getting worse - two hours later - until some form of inferno blow-up happened.
"You didn't hear it but you just saw it, it went 'phew'," she added, using her hands to mimic the sudden rising of flames.
"You felt it on your face, I felt the heat.
I just started running around, knocking on all the doors, saying ‘fire!’ to everyone to get everyone out because no one else was here yet. Some people were still in bed and didn’t hear it
Dionne Braniff
"That's why they said our block has now been impacted because where the flames got so high, higher than these trees, the fire then went onto our roof."
Another resident recalled: “I could hear some commotion and there was banging on the door. I went downstairs thinking ‘what’s that?’ but I think by that time, after 7am, we had a fire brigade unit here and they were banging on the doors telling us to get out.
“I didn’t just run out because I had just woken up, but when I got outside, I was horrified and a bit stunned.
“I didn’t know whether it was going to blow. I knew it was the substation.”
Station Commander Paul Morgan is at the scene, he said: "This is a very visible fire and there is lots of smoke.
"Residents are advised to keep their windows and doors shut."
Fire crews from Paddington and Euston fire stations are in attendance.
The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.
A Met Police spokesperson said: "At 05:42hrs on Tuesday, 29 April we were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to a fire at an electricity substation in Victoria Passage, Maida Vale.
“Officers responded to support the emergency response which has required a number of nearby buildings to be evacuated.
“We remain on the scene in support of the London Fire Brigade working alongside partners including the local authority.
“At an appropriate point, firefighters will be able to give an initial view of the potential cause, but for now the priority of all those involved in the response is tackling the fire and ensuring the safety of people in the surrounding area.
“We would echo the London Fire Brigade advice which is to avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.”
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