Chemicals plant fire in Greenwich triggering siren alert across south east London. Photo: London Fire Brigade

Residents across South East London heard a warning siren early today as the London Fire Brigade, including crews from three Lewisham stations, tackled a fire at a chemical processing plant on Peterboat Close in Greenwich, SE10.

At the height of the incident, 12 fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled the blaze in the early hours of this morning.

A range of industrial units which contained chemicals were damaged by the fire. A loud siren sounded to alert people about the fire due to the chemicals contained within the buildings.

Due to the heavy smoke, the Brigade received a number of calls from people all over the south east London area. The Brigade sought scientific advice on the smoke plume and were informed that the smoke was not harmful.

They advised people living nearby to close doors and windows but the air is now reported “clear and it is fine to open doors and windows.”

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Dany Cotton, said:

“Our firefighters worked extremely hard to contain the fire, which damaged around half of a big industrial unit.”

Firefighters were called at 3.27 a.m. and the fire was not brought under control until breakfast time 6.48 a.m.

Smoke billowed across the area and a siren was sounded to warn local people to keep doors and windows closed. Photo: London Fire Brigade

Fire crews from Lee Green, Forest Hill, Deptford, Greenwich, East Greenwich, Plaistow, Woolwich, Plumstead,  and Poplar fire stations took part in the operation.

A contingent of up to 15 firefighters and their tenders remain at the scene while the Brigade’s investigators establish how the blaze started.

The activation of the siren is an unusual event, which is why people living in the area of a certain age recalled the Second World War or thought there might have been a risk of flooding. The siren was sounded because the fire had affected a range of industrial units containing some chemicals.