Central London electrical fire still burning underground

[Surya Gayatri]

Source: The Guardian

London fire brigade says fire in Kingsway, Holborn, has been contained but 20 firefighters remain at scene and local roads are still closed.

An electrical fire that forced the evacuation of 5,000 people in central London is still burning underneath the pavement, and a key London artery remains closed.

“This has been a technically difficult incident to tackle,” said assistant commissioner Peter Cowup of the London fire brigade (LFB). “The reason that the fire is still burning is because the service tunnel is hard to reach.

“Although firefighters have been applying water through access points throughout the night, the complexity of the tunnel layout means that it will be some time until the fire is fully extinguished.”

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/apr/02/central-london-electrical-fire-still-burning-underground

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[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. "... firefighters have been applying water...."

To an electrical fire?

ETA: and then I Googled.

New Fire Extinguishers Use Water on Electrical Fires

Well, yeah, as long as it's distilled water. In this case, I don't think that's what they're using. Can someone clue me in?

[MADem]

2. I think they cut the power a long while ago...it's probably the road tar that's burning... nt

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. D'oh (slapping forehead). Now I get it. NT

[brooklynite]

4. Can I ask what the relevance of the picture is?

Plenty of pictures of what's actually happening...

[MADem]

5. That looks like an original representation of the first big London fire...

London's burning, London's burning!
Look yonder! Look yonder!
Fire, fire! Fire, fire!!
Pour water! Pour water!!

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fire_of_London

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Got it in one, MADem...well done! 1666, and Pepys diary...unforgettable.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. A light-hearted reference to the "GREAT FIRE OF LONDON" back in 1666.

This was an update. Yesterday, I actually did post some pretty graphic pics from the fire.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026447625

Thousands of people evacuated and West End shows cancelled as smoke engulfs central London