Investigation Launched into Fire at West London Church

LONDON, February 27, 2026 — Fire investigators from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) have launched a probe into the cause of a major blaze that tore through a historic but long-derelict Methodist church in Southall on Sunday night.

The fire broke out at King's Hall Methodist Church on South Road shortly before 9:30pm on February 22, triggering more than 20 emergency calls from members of the public. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters from Southall, Ealing, Heston and surrounding stations rushed to the scene.

“At the height of the fire, most of the ground floor, second floor and roof were alight,” the LFB said in a statement. Crews deployed two 32-metre turntable ladders to fight the flames from above as thick smoke billowed into the night sky.

The blaze was brought under control by approximately 12:30am–00:38am, with firefighters remaining on site into the following day to damp down hotspots. No injuries were reported, and there was no risk to nearby properties.

The Grade II-listed building, designed by architect Sir Alfred Gelder and completed in 1916, had stood empty since closing in 2013. Local authority surveyors later declared the structure unsafe after the roof and internal floors collapsed, leaving the once-prominent Southall landmark severely damaged.

The London Fire Brigade has confirmed that a full investigation is under way to establish the cause of the fire. Officials have cautioned that the inquiry could take time due to the scale and condition of the site. South Road was closed in both directions during the initial response and clean-up but has since reopened.

Residents in the vicinity were advised to keep windows and doors closed while smoke lingered. Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation pending the outcome of the investigation.

This incident marks the latest challenge for historic religious buildings in the capital, though no further details on potential causes have been released.