More than 100 calls flooded in just after 6.30pm on Sunday as a fire on a railway embankment in Walthamstow tore through a house, multiple gardens and sheds, sending plumes of smoke visible for miles. Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters from London Fire Brigade were scrambled to the scene near Vallentin Road and Shernhall Street, where the blaze spread rapidly from the tracks into adjoining properties.
“Crews are working hard to extinguish the fire in Walthamstow,” the brigade said on X, urging people to avoid Wood Street and surrounding roads. “The Weaver London Overground line is currently suspended.” Transport for London confirmed severe delays on the rest of the line and said London Underground was accepting tickets via any reasonable route while a tree was removed from the track at Walthamstow Central.
“125 firefighters battle Walthamstow blaze as residents evacuated and Overground line suspended”
Residents were evacuated from their homes as the fire took hold, with two rest centres set up locally in partnership with Waltham Forest Council. London Fire Brigade received the first of over 100 calls at 18:27, and crews quickly arrived to find one house, several gardens and sheds, and the railway embankment all alight. “The incident has been producing a significant amount of smoke,” a brigade statement read, advising people in the area to keep windows and doors closed. Motorists were warned to avoid Wood Street, Shernhall Street and other closed roads.
Road closures remained in place late into the evening as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed, but the Weaver Overground line remained partially suspended, leaving hundreds of evacuated residents waiting in rest centres for updates.
