Roads in Erith remain closed, and buses continue to be diverted after a significant fire broke out at a commercial building in Church Manorway yesterday morning (Monday, September 16). Fire crews were dispatched to the industrial site at 9:50 am, where over 100 staff members had already evacuated before their arrival.
The fire, which is centred on a corkscrew conveyor belt at the site, has proved challenging to access, complicating efforts to fully extinguish the flames. London Fire Brigade (LFB) has established a 500-metre safety cordon, and firefighting operations are expected to continue through today (September 18). Crews from multiple stations, including Erith, Plumstead, and Greenwich, are on the scene.
A spokesperson for the LFB said: “Firefighters are responding to a fire at an industrial site on Church Manorway, Erith. The location of the fire is difficult to access, limiting the ability of crews to fully extinguish the flames. As a result, this is a protracted incident, and firefighting operations may extend into tomorrow.”
While Erith Station remains open, its car park is closed, and buses are unable to stop there. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Road Closures:
The following roads are currently closed due to the fire:
- Mulberry Way (both directions) at Church Manorway
- B213 Lower Road (both directions) from Battle Road to A2016 Bronze Age Way
- Bronze Age Way (both directions) from B253 Picardy Manorway to A206 Queens Road (Erith Roundabout)
Bus Diversions:
Several bus routes are on diversion:
- Route 469: Buses are diverted toward Erith and will not serve stops from Eardley Road (W) to Erith Station/West Street (L).
- Route 180: Buses will start and terminate at Abbey Wood Station (C) and Harrow Manorway/Yarnton Way (B), with no service to remaining stops en route to Erith.
- Route 229: Buses are diverted toward Queen Mary’s Hospital/Chislehurst Road and will not serve stops from Lower Road/Belvedere Station (C) to Erith Town Centre/Cross Street (G).
Emergency Response:
London Ambulance Service was called to the scene at 10:54 am, deploying members of its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and an incident response officer. A spokesperson said, “Our crews attended and assisted our emergency services partners at the scene. Some of our crews were later stood down, while others remain at the scene.”
The incident continues to impact the local area, and commuters are advised to plan alternative routes and allow for delays. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.
