A busy West London street was shut down this afternoon after a fire erupted at a restaurant in Bayswater, drawing a large emergency response and significantly disrupting traffic in the area.
At least 40 firefighters from Paddington, North Kensington, and Kensington fire stations were dispatched to Queensway, where the fire broke out in Malaysian restaurant Putera Puteri, just before 3.40pm on Tuesday, April 22.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that the blaze occurred within a commercial property’s basement, prompting a swift and large-scale operation to bring it under control. The fire was extinguished later in the evening, but crews remain on-site to monitor for hotspots and ensure the area is safe.
Roads Closed and Traffic Disrupted
The incident led to the closure of Queensway (B411) and parts of the A4206 Bishops Bridge Road, between Westbourne Grove and Porchester Road, causing gridlock throughout Bayswater.
A traffic alert from Transport for London stated:
A4206 Bishops Bridge Road in both directions closed due to building fire between B411 Queensway and Porchester Road. In relation to the B411 Queensway closure. A diversion route is in place for local buses.”
As of 7:57pm, the A4206 had reopened, although Queensway remained shut while fire investigators continued their work.
Investigation Underway
LFB has confirmed that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. Thankfully, there have been no reports of injuries, but local businesses and traffic were heavily affected.
Images from the scene showed smoke pouring out of the restaurant and emergency crews in full breathing apparatus working to tackle the flames.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
“Crews acted quickly to contain the fire to the basement area. Our fire investigators will now begin the process of establishing how it started. We thank the public for their patience while roads remain closed.”
Community Impact
The incident sparked significant concern among locals and commuters, with many taking to social media to share videos and photos of the thick smoke and fire engines lining the street.
Residents living nearby were advised to keep windows closed due to smoke in the area, and bus services were diverted until further notice.
The fire is the latest in a series of incidents affecting high-traffic areas in central London this spring. Authorities are urging business owners to regularly check safety equipment and ensure compliance with fire safety regulations.
