A major fire has been burning for more than seven hours at a gym and restaurant in Ilford, prompting the closure of Forest Road in both directions. Around 80 firefighters and 12 fire engines responded to the scene just before 2 AM this morning (September 19), and crews remain on-site battling the blaze.

[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;}

_psEmbed(“https:///uknip.photoshelter.com”);

The London Fire Brigade confirmed that as of 9:30 AM, a “small part” of the first floor of the two-storey commercial building was still alight. Firefighters from Hainault, Romford, Dagenham, Woodford, and other surrounding stations are working to control the fire, using 64-metre and 32-metre turntable ladders to douse the flames from above.

Forest Road has been closed between the Fairlop Waters roundabout and Hainault Road. Residents and drivers are urged to avoid the area until further notice.

The brigade’s control officers received six emergency calls about the fire and used an app to live stream footage from bystanders’ smartphones, allowing for “better situational awareness” at the scene. This technology enables control officers to view live video streams directly from callers’ phones, aiding in their response efforts.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and updates will be provided as the situation develops.