Significant damage to Southall church after major blaze

A derelict church on South Road has been left in a state of ruin following a major overnight blaze that caused the roof and upper floors to collapse.

Following an inspection by local authority surveyors on Monday, the building has been officially declared ‘structurally unsafe’. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that the intensity of the fire led to a total failure of the roof and internal flooring. Despite the severe damage to the church, officials have reassured residents that there is currently no risk to surrounding properties.
At the height of the incident, which began at 21:30 on Sunday, 70 firefighters used 32-metre turntable ladders as ‘water towers’ to douse the flames from above. The fire was brought under control by 00:38, but crews remained on-site throughout Monday morning to dampen down hotspots and ensure the site was safe. There have been no reports of any injuries.

The Brigade has now safely left the site in the care of local authorities. South Road has reopened in both directions, and local businesses have returned to normal operations.

This update was published by the London Fire Brigade on 23/02/2026 and can be viewed at https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2026/february/fire-at-a-church-southall/