Another fire hits Greenwich
A blaze is burning on the Greenwich side of Deptford Creek with thick black smoke visible.
Thankfully at a construction site. Hopefully no one is there. Happening now at Greenwich! pic.twitter.com/FuwQ3BPemO
— VK (@vk250382) June 30, 2018
The fire appears to be at the crane which serves the aggregate plant.
This blaze follows a Town Centre fire just a few days ago. As well as that event, many fires have occurred over the past week across London as hot weather has taken hold. The London Fire Brigade has had to attend a number of multi-pump fires which has left them stretched given service cuts in recent years.
Woolwich had its fire station closed and east Greenwich saw a reduction in fire engines.
More as it comes in
Until recently this was a working crane, unloading the boats that came up the creek to serve the cement factory.
However in the last couple of weeks a different crane has been in place, and yesterday (before the fire broke out) the old crane appeared to be being demolished – you can see in the pictures it is rigged up to be taken away by another crane, and there were lots of demolition veichles around all day.
It seems a shame that these cranes are not protected in any way and they can just be got rid of. I know there are quite a few around, but this is the only one I know that is near Greenwich. I’m surprised they didn’t need to get permission before demolishing it.
Completely agree – it’s a real shame that another piece of industrial heritage has just gone in 24 hours. I can see it being gobbled up by hydraulic shears from my window as I type. There’s not much like it left in West Greenwich these days!
It was certainly the last of its type working in London, possibly in the UK. Others are preserved but not in working order.