Police have arrested a man in his 40s on suspicion of arson following a major fire on Electric Avenue in Brixton, south London. The blaze prompted a massive emergency response with 10 fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters called to the scene on Monday morning.
The fire began in a storage area behind shops on the famous street, which was immortalised in Guyanese-British musician Eddy Grant's 1983 hit song of the same name. It then spread to the building above the storage area, according to London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Smoke plume over Brixton market
A large plume of smoke could be seen rising over the roofs of Electric Avenue throughout Monday morning, creating dramatic scenes above the bustling market street. No injuries have been reported, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.
The suspect remains in police custody following his arrest. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 2087/07JUL or to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Transport disruption and safety measures
Police maintained a cordon on Electric Avenue throughout the day, preventing pedestrians from accessing the area whilst also blocking several nearby roads to traffic. Brixton Tube station was closed throughout Monday to prevent smoke from travelling through the underground system.
Residents living nearby were advised to shut their windows to prevent smoke inhalation. Firefighters could be seen entering and exiting several shops on Electric Avenue throughout the day, trying to access the back area where the fire started.
Emergency response operation
Smoke billowed from the doors of two shops that firefighters entered, whilst water poured from a street-side access point where crews had connected their hoses. A fire engine with a long ladder was deployed on Electric Lane, a small back alley behind the main shopping street.
The ladder served as both a lookout point and a water tower to help extinguish the fire from height, LFB said. The fire brigade brought the blaze under control by 1.11pm, but firefighters remained in the area to monitor the situation.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
