Seven fire engines and 49 firefighters and officers were called to a burst water main on King Street in Hammersmith yesterday evening. Four fire rescue units equipped with boats were also at the scene.
An area of around 650 metres by 100 metres flooded to varying depths up to 500mm. Properties in the area were affected and crews were on the scene pumping water away. Crews led around 70 people to safety and a further 34 were escorted from the area.
Station Manager, Paul Fitzgerald was at the scene and said: “Seven people were evacuated from properties. Fire crews used boats to assist people who needed to leave their homes although the majority of residents were able to stay in their property. Around 270 sandbags were provided to help stop water from entering buildings.
“Crews pumped water away and Thames Water was on the scene investigating.
“People were advised to avoid the area as a number of road closures were in place and Ravenscourt Park tube station was closed.”
The Brigade has a range of equipment which can be used to help rescue people trapped by flood water, pump water away and protect properties. Some of the Brigade's fire rescue units are equipped with water rescue equipment such as inflatable rescue boats. The Brigade also has a number of high volume pumps stationed at strategic locations across the capital. These can be used to pump large amounts of water away from flooded areas.
The Brigade was called at 2014 and the incident was over by 0154. Fire crews from Chiswick, Hammersmith, Heston, Soho, Paddington and Hammersmith fire stations were at the scene.