Huge blaze breaks out in London as 125 firefighters rush to battle flames and smoke billows over the capital

Get your news delivered straight to you by 7am - sign up to our new Morning Mail newsletter for FREE See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 14:18 EDT, 26 August 2026 | Updated: 14:28 EDT, 26 August 2026 A huge blaze has broken out in London, with 125 firefighters rushing to battle the flames as thick smoke billows across the capital.Twenty fire engines are at the scene as the blaze is affecting a range of garages and producing a significant amount of smoke. Residents have been told to keep their windows and doors closed, while people are being urged to avoid the area if they can. More than 70 calls have been made to the brigade since the first at 4.27pm. As of now, the cause of the fire is not yet established.One of the London Fire Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders has been deployed to help fight the fire from above.Train services through Mitcham Junction have also been affected by the fire.Pictures and videos of the fire in Mitcham are being shared on social media, showing a thick plume of smoke rising over the area. The fire broke out at a workshop and scaffolding yard near Mitcham, sending a massive plume of thick smoke across the capital that was visible from miles away Crews from Mitcham, Wallington, Norbury, and surrounding stations were dispatchedThe smoke can be seen from miles away, with one person posting on X suggesting it was visible from as far as Croydon.Justefe, a photographer at the scene of the fire said: 'We saw a plume of thick smoke on our way home and I decided to send my drone up to see where that was coming from. 'It’s a Mitcham Common Beddington Landfill. 'We are about half a mile from the affected area. I can see that the blaze has lessened which means the fire brigade has it under control'An update by the London Fire Brigade said: 'Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters have been called to a fire near Carshalton Road in Mitcham. 'The fire is affecting a workshop and scaffolding yard.'The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke and local residents should keep their windows and doors closed.'Please avoid the area if you can. Authorities advised nearby residents to keep windows and doors firmly closed and urged the public to avoid the area The fire is burning near Carshalton Road in Mitcham, where around 125 firefighters and 20 fire engines have been sent to the scene 'Control Officers took the first of over 70 calls at 1627 and have mobilised crews from Mitcham, Wallington, Norbury and surrounding fire stations to the scene.'The cause of the fire is not yet known.'Earlier this week, on August 24, four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a grass fire near Carshalton Road in Mitcham.Around half a hectare of a field was damaged by the fire, and there were no reports of any injuries.Last month, on July 25, twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters responded to a flat fire on Belgrave Walk in Mitcham.A row of townhouses converted into flats were involved in the fire. The fire spread across all three floors and into the roof spaces of the buildings.Approximately 35 residents were displaced, and a rest centre was opened at a local church.Assistant Commissioner Pam Oparaocha said: 'Firefighters worked tirelessly in arduous conditions to bring this fire under control during what has been a very hot day.'