The Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels were closed on the evening of 4 November 2025, after a fire broke out at a nearby industrial unit in Greenwich, London
London Fire Brigade (LFB) mobilised ten fire engines and more than 70 firefighters to the scene, with crews from East Greenwich, Greenwich, Deptford, Poplar, and surrounding fire stations also in attendance.
Crews worked through the evening, tackling the flames by utilising two 32-metre turntable ladders as water towers to douse the flames from above. The fire was eventually brought under control shortly after 9pm.
The Brigade later reported that the fire had produced a significant amount of smoke, and people in the local area were advised to keep windows and doors closed.
In a social media update, LFB said: “Thanks to firefighting efforts, smoke in the area has significantly reduced. Partners are now reopening the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels in both directions.”
Whilst there were no reports of any injuries, two people were evacuated from a neighbouring property as a precaution.
Several crews spent the following morning dampening down hotspots and putting out deep-seated pockets of fire. LFB confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire was ongoing.
[Photograph by London Fire Brigade]