burned out buildings pic: Jake Mitchinson

A fire on Deptford Bridge on Thursday caused extreme traffic congestion as well as severe delays that lasted the whole day in surrounding areas.

The fire broke out at 12:09 on Deptford Bridge, SE8, affecting two derelict shops with flats above. The building had been completely destroyed.

Firefighters from Greenwich, Brixton, Forest Hill, Old Kent Road and Lewisham fire stations were called in at 12:10pm. The fire, which required six fire engines and around 30 firefighters, was under control by 16:11pm.

London Fire Brigade said: “All floors are 100 per cent damaged and both roofs are off”. Press statement on the website stated that the building is now unsafe and is most likely to be demolished.

Station Manager Richard Knighton, from Dockhead fire station who was at the scene, said: “It was a large fire but crews worked really hard to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby properties.”

The fire caused the A2 London road to close both ways between Deptford Bridge and Greenwich. The A206 Greenwich High Road and A2 Blackheath Road had also been affected, causing severe delays. Travel hold-ups in the area were said to be as long as two hours.

The situation was tracked on Twitter. While some called their travel experiences a “nightmare” or “not a swift process”, others warned each other to “avoid Deptford/New Cross area” generally.

PxAlena said: “I left my house at 3:50pm. It is now 5:07. I live in Deptford and I’m still in flipping Deptford!!”

BBC Travel News warned of congestion in New Cross Gate area, on A200 Evelyn Street to the Deptford junction and to Bermondsey.