Living in London

We love to sleep with the windows open, and enjoy the cool night air. Last night was a great sleeping night until I woke up about 3:00 am to the smell of acrid smoke. I jumped up and checked the hallway to determine that our building was not on fire. Then I stuck my head out the window (American readers note there are no window screens here – the few bugs that exist just fly in and then fly out again) and I could see a heavy haze in the air. Then I noticed other people moving to their windows and in a few cases, out their doors into the street. The lady across the street called up to me to compare “sniffing” notes, and the said she would call the fire brigade. They told her there was a big fire miles away, and that the wind had shifted and was blowing the smoke into our neighbourhood. We would have all breathed a big sigh of relief if we could have taken a deep enough breath.  

I went back to bed feeling very good about our new neighbours. This morning it’s a beautiful sunny and clear day again, but my thoughts go out to those in the immediate vicinity of the fire. I hope they can get a breath soon.

The London Fire Brigade offers this brief update on the incident.

Around 100 firefighters and twenty fire engines are currently tackling a blaze at a timber yard on Staples Corner in Cricklewood. People working in the surrounding area have been evacuated while crews work to bring the fire under control. Local roads and rail services have also been affected.

The Brigade was called at 1331 (16-July) and crews are still at the scene.