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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Jacob Phillips

Dagenham fire: Black smoke seen across London after scrap metal and cars catch fire at industrial estate

Firefighters have warned residents to keep their windows and doors closed after a number of cars and scrap metal were on fire at an industrial estate in east London.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters rushed to the scene on Willoughby Drive in Dagenham after three containers, several vehicles, and scrap metal caught fire, sending huge clouds of black smoke into the air.

The London Fire Brigade said it was called to the scene at around 2.09pm and the cause of the fire remains unknown.

The emergency services rushed to the scene at an industrial estate on Willoughby Drive (London Fire Brigade)

Firefighters had the fire under control at 4.23pm, and remained at the scene fully extinguishing the flames.

Two gas cylinders were removed from the area and cooled to an ambient temperature as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat, the LFB added.

Station Commander Mel Anderson, who is at the scene, said: "This is a very visible fire and it is producing a lot of smoke.

"We advise people in the area to keep their windows and doors closed. We also request that drivers avoid Rainham Road South with road closures in place whilst this incident is ongoing."

The Brigade's Control Officers received more than 50 calls about the fire and crews from Dagenham, Barking, Wennington, Hornchurch, Romford and surrounding fire stations rushed to the scene.

The London Fire Brigade has warned that the fire is very visible, producing a lot of smoke, and has asked people in the area to keep their windows and doors closed.

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