House opposite ours on fire after lightening strike. Thought we were hit - huge bang! 4 engines in the street. http://t.co/PXPt8NmOPT
From @HillAlexandra on Twitter:We're currently tackling a house fire on Annandale Rd, Greenwich. Part of the 1st floor is alight & 4 fire engines are at the scene.
From @LondonFire on Twitter:Over 70 firefighters were called to tackle a fire at a factory in Greenwich which created a towering column of smoke. People in the area were woken up after the blaze triggered a siren that could be heard across South East London. Paul Brand reports.
An air raid siren sounded over Greenwich today as more than 60 firefighters battled a blaze at a chemical processing plant.
The alarm was sounded as a precaution after the fire at the factory threatened to affect a unit containing hazardous chemicals.
@4tea2 sent us this video of the siren:
The incident, which saw smoke fill the air around the unit on Peterboat Close, has now been brought under control.
The warehouse on fire contained "swimming pool chemicals" but the siren was sounded to alert the public to "more dangerous chemicals" in a nearby building.
This building, one of only a few in London required to have a siren for safety reasons, was not affected by the fire but London Tonight has been told the alarm was sounded as a precaution.
The fire is now out at the factory in Greenwich which burst into flames in the early hours of the morning.
The area still smells strongly of the swimming pool chemicals which were stored here.
The fire brigade say those chemicals pose little health risk to anyone and are no worse than a strong bleach.
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade has confirmed that the blaze at a chemical processing plant in Greenwich is under control.
Small pockets of flames remain on site and fire fighters will be on site for most of the day to dampen embers.
The spokesman said that smoke over Greenwich has now dispersed and residents no longer need to keep their windows closed.
Sixty firefighters tackle blaze at chemical factory in Greenwich
Read the full storyAround seventy firefighters are tackling a blaze at a factory in Greenwich
Due to the heavy smoke and sound of sirens, London Fire Brigade says it's received a number of calls from people across south east London.
The factory contains chemicals used to clean swimming pools and although it's not thought that the smoke is harmful in any way, fire chiefs are advising people in the area to keep their doors and windows closed as a precaution.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Bernie Higgins is the Incident Commander:
A lane closure on the Southern Approach of the Blackwall Tunnel due to a fire in Greenwich has led to slow moving northbound traffic with long tailbacks.
