Row of Terraced Houses Catches Fire in Roehampton
Gas explosion blamed for blaze on Burke Close
Firefighters on the scene in Roehampton. Picture: London Fire Brigade
April 3, 2025
Three houses in Roehampton have been damaged after a fire broke out on Thursday morning (27 March).
London Fire Brigade received the first call about the incident at 9:19 am and six fire engines with around 40 firefighters were sent from Richmond, Chiswick, Fulham, Battersea, Wandsworth and surrounding fire stations.
By the time they arrived at Burke Close off Arabella Drive, four people had fled the properties unharmed. The brigade had the fire under control before noon, but some firefighters remained on the scene for a number of hours afterwards.
The ground floor of three homes in a row of terrace were damaged.
Local sources say that the fire was a result of a gas explosion, with the blast being heard several streets away, and the local Liberal Democrats say this highlights issues already raised about the borough by the Regulator of Housing Safety.
Wandsworth Liberal Democrat spokesperson Kieren McCarthy said, “Residents told us that they had smelt gas for months. They reported electrical issues. They asked for help—and they were ignored. Now their homes are in ruins. This is a failure of basic safety and accountability.
“The issues are longstanding: decades of underinvestment by the previous Conservative-run council administration followed by nearly three years of Labour poor administration are at the heart of the problems.”
Damage at the rear of the property on Burke Close. Picture: Wandsworth Lib Dems
The Council is due to discuss the regulator’s report at its Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, 8 April.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said that an investigation into the cause of the fire has begun.
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