For anyone heading towards Penge High Street this morning (09/10): major fire ongoing at Poundland, Penge High Street

[IlonaM]

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/fire-penge-poundland-shop-high-street-b1252008.html

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2025/october/shop-fire-penge/

[Earl Aelfheah]

Wow, that looks really serious. I hope no one has been hurt.

[IlonaM]

Not sure if any injuries. A lot of fire & ambulances - possibly in case of injury rather than responding to known cases. Saw two ambulance incident response vehicles just as I was leaving the  vet at around 1015am, so hopefully it is now under control and winding down. 

Touch wood it will be clear by the time I collect Bella this afternoon.

Edited October 9 by IlonaM

[Penguin68]

Current reports identify no injuries, so far as I can tell. The fire seems to have started in the small hours. A number of people adjacent were reported as being evacuated for safety. 

[vladi]

Just wondering....  was Poundland holding a stock of cheap fireworks in readiness for November 5th?

[Sue]

49 minutes ago, vladi said:

Just wondering....  was Poundland holding a stock of cheap fireworks in readiness for November 5th?

I sincerely hope that wasn't the cause, because if it was they surely can't have been stored properly?

Last I read, they hadn't identified the cause of the fire, but I guess it's hard to do that while the place is still burning.