Three taken to hospital after early morning house fire on Vincents Path in Northolt

Three people were taken to hospital after a fire tore through a terraced house on Vincents Path in Northolt in the early hours of Friday 16 October.

London Fire Brigade said ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the fire, which affected a row of terraced homes. The whole second floor and part of the roof of one house were alight, and part of a neighbouring house was also damaged.

Three people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews. Their conditions have not been confirmed.

How the fire unfolded

The Brigade said its control officers took the first of eight 999 calls about the fire at 4.18am. Crews were sent from Northolt, Wembley, Harrow, Southall and other nearby fire stations.

Footage shared with UB1UB2 shows flames coming from the second floor at around 5.05am, with smoke rising over the terrace and neighbours watching from the path below.

A 32-metre turntable ladder was used at the scene as an observation tower. The Brigade said drones and thermal imaging cameras were also used to give the incident commander a clearer view of the fire and to help crews plan how to bring it under control.

The fire was brought under control at 6.23am, about two hours after the first call. Firefighters stayed at the scene into the morning, damping down to make sure the fire could not reignite.

Cause under investigation

London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire is under investigation. No further details about how it started have been released.

Vincents Path is a residential street in Northolt, in the London Borough of Ealing. Residents nearby were asked to give the emergency services space while crews were working.

It is not the first serious house fire in Northolt in recent years. In July 2024, ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a maisonette fire on Newmarket Avenue. Four people escaped by jumping from second and third floor windows and were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The Brigade said that fire was believed to have been caused by a second-hand e-bike or e-scooter battery pack that failed while charging by the front door of the flat.

Fire safety advice

London Fire Brigade advises households to fit smoke alarms on every floor and test them regularly, keep escape routes such as hallways and staircases clear, and make sure everyone at home knows how to get out if there is a fire.

If a fire breaks out, the Brigade's advice is to get out, stay out and call 999. Residents can also book a free home fire safety visit through London Fire Brigade's website.