70 Firefighters Tackle Major Blaze at Derelict Church in Southall
Feb. 22, 2026 — Southall — Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters from the London Fire Brigade battled a significant fire at a derelict church on South Road in Southall, Ealing, after more than 20 emergency calls were received around 9:30 p.m.
The blaze was brought under control shortly after 12:38 a.m. on Feb. 23, with firefighters remaining on scene throughout the day to extinguish hotspots. Crews from Southall, Ealing, Heston and surrounding stations deployed two 32-metre turntable ladders as water towers to fight the flames from above. There were no reports of injuries.
Damage Assessment
The church sustained extensive damage, including the total collapse of the roof and upper floors. Following a local authority assessment, the building was declared structurally unsafe but poses no risk to surrounding properties. South Road, closed in both directions during the incident, has since reopened, allowing local businesses to resume operations.
“The fire was brought under control overnight with crews deploying 32-metre turntable ladders as water towers to tackle the fire from above. Firefighters have remained on scene in the hours since working to fully extinguish the fire and put out hotspots. This work was completed this afternoon and the Brigade has now left the site safely in the care of partner agencies. The building has sustained a significant amount of damage due to the fire, resulting in the collapse of the roof and the upper floors. Following an assessment by the local authority, the derelict church building has been declared structurally unsafe but there is no risk to surrounding properties. South Road, which was shut in both directions, has reopened with local businesses operating as usual.”
— London Fire Brigade spokesperson
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The incident drew coverage from local outlets including the Hounslow Herald, noting the intensity led to structural failure, and ITV News, which reported on the rapid response to the Sunday evening blaze.
Some reports identified the site as the historic King’s Hall Methodist Church, though official statements referred to it only as a derelict church.
