Newham (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Shoppers were evacuated from Westfield Stratford City after a fire broke out in the multistorey car park in Newham, prompting a swift emergency response.
Black smoke plumes were seen rising from the parking lot where multiple cars had taken fire on Saturday afternoon in footage posted online.
According to a London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesperson, many cars were alight on an upper level of parking lot C, and the fire had been “producing a significant amount of smoke.”
The brigade said that the shopping center had been evacuated “as a precaution” and encouraged “people to avoid the area at this time.”
At 4:05 p.m., the brigade was initially contacted, and the London Ambulance Service (LAS) also hurried to the site near Stratford’s Montfichet Road in Newham.
About 70 firemen, including personnel from Stratford, Poplar, Leytonstone, and other fire stations, were dispatched along with ten fire engines.
The LFB said:
“Several vehicles have been damaged by fire.
Crews remain on scene damping down and people are advised to continue to avoid the area at this time.”
An LAS spokesman said:
“We sent resources including ambulance crews, an incident response officer and members of our hazardous area response team.
We treated two people but both were discharged at the scene.”
What structural inspections are planned for each damaged level?
Engineers will inspect all visible structural elements, including beams, columns, slabs, and walls, for any heat damage, cracks, warping, spalling, or other structural distress caused by the fire.
Examine the state of the foundations and load-bearing elements that support the damaged floors to ensure they are safely stable.
If applicable, report your findings using non-destructive testing to investigate the overall concrete, steel, and reinforcement integrity and to explore possible effects of excessive high temperatures from the fire. Please note, this may also include looking at the possible effects of the water and/or fire suppression systems (e.g., sprinklers, foam) on structural materials that may lead to accelerated corrosion.