A massive fire erupted on a houseboat in Hampton at approximately 3:18am, prompting an urgent response from the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
The blaze began after reports of an explosion, quickly engulfing half of the leisure boat moored on the river. The LFB control room received eight emergency calls, leading to a rapid and substantial firefighting operation.
Eight fire engines were dispatched to the scene, with about 60 firefighters battling the flames. Fire units from Twickenham, Kingston, Surbiton, and Surrey Fire and Rescue collaborated to tackle the fire.
The crews worked diligently and managed to extinguish the fire by 4:28am, successfully preventing it from spreading further.
Half of the houseboat sustained severe damage. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. Firefighters remain on site conducting an initial assessment, while the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Local residents and river boaters were advised to avoid the area during the emergency response. Witnesses described seeing thick plumes of smoke rising above the riverbank, with emergency vehicles filling the vicinity.
The London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to come forward. Details can be reported by calling 101.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation continues.
Originally published by UKNIP.
