Poundland on High Street, Penge, remains at risk of collapsing after fire

Business owners have been told a Poundland on fire in London could ‘collapse any minute’.

Homes have been evacuated and shops have not been allowed to open after a huge fire above the shop on Penge High Street in southeast London.

Around 100 firefighters are at the scene of the fire in a two-storey terraced building after being called at about 4.30am.

About 25 people have been evacuated to a rest center ‘as a precaution’, and people in the area are being advised to keep their doors and windows closed.

Nasrat Nasery owns Pound Plus in Penge and says his shop is at the end of the cordon.

‘‘We were told it could be two to three days until the road reopens, or they might release part of the road and the rest by the Poundland will stay closed.

‘They’re expecting the building can collapse any minute.’

Nasrat arrived at his shop at about 8am to prepare to open and was shocked to see the Poundland was well alight.

He explained: ‘I was at the shop early morning to prepare to open the shop and I saw the fire.

‘There were officers who said we are not allowed to open.

‘The road is still closed, it might be closed for the whole day.

‘Normally we open at 9am, but today we can’t. Whatever they tell us we have to follow.

‘We were told it could be two to three days until the road reopens, or they might release part of the road and the rest by the Poundland will stay closed.’

Penge High Street is closed due to the number of fire engines at the scene. Drivers are being advised to avoid the area.

A video recorded nearby shows a tall plume of dark smoke billowing into the sky as sunrise starts to approach.

Firefighters are still at the scene now that the sun has fully risen.

Water is being pumped onto the fire from a crane above the building, as well as through the shop’s front windows.

All of the windows have blown out, and there is serious smoke damage to the Poundland sign on the front of the building.

The fire brigade says the cause of the fire, which is being looked into by its fire investigators, is ‘not known at this stage’.

Crews from Beckenham, Forest Hill, Woodside, West Norwood, and other surrounding stations have been called to the scene this morning.

A statement from the fire brigade said: ‘Fire crews are using a 32-meter turntable ladder as a water tower to help extinguish the fire from above, and the brigade’s drone team is providing the incident commander with a greater situational awareness of the fire.’

The fire was brought under control shortly before 8.50am, but the brigade said it will remain on scene throughout the day to ensure any remaining hotspots are extinguished.

It’s expected that Penge High Street will remain closed for the majority of the day.

Bromley council has set up a rest center to support the 25 residents who were evacuated from their homes due to the fire.

Cllr Angela Page, executive councillor for public protection and enforcement, said: ‘On behalf of local residents, we are enormously grateful to the firefighters who have been at the scene of this ferocious fire, with their professional dedication and bravery once again called upon.

‘This is a very difficult time for all those in Penge, but particularly for local residents who have been evacuated because of the fire.

‘We are reaching out to support evacuated residents in what is a fast-moving and changing situation.’