Fire at Network Rail depot - Slough (12/08/26)

[mr_moo]

Hi everyone,

There was a fire last week in 'an industrial unit next to the railway' in Slough.
That building was part of the Network Rail maintenance depot.

Quite the blaze. There are plans being made for a complete new building no great surprise!

Fire service update after crews battle huge blaze near Slough train station

Crews from eight fire stations were called in to tackle a huge blaze which erupted near Slough train station on Wednesday afternoon (August 12).

www.sloughobserver.co.uk

Clearest picture: https://www.sloughobserver.co.uk/ne...rews-attacked-huge-industrial-blaze/#gallery0

Brunel Way fire Slough: Crews attacked huge industrial blaze​

Hollie Busby

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Crews from eight fire stations were called in to tackle a huge blaze which erupted near Slough train station on Wednesday afternoon (August 12).
At 4.02pm, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue were called to reports of a fire in Brunel Way inside an industrial unit in Slough.
The incident caused train cancellations as the railway between Slough and Windsor & Eton central was blocked for hours, while residents were urged by the fire service to close their doors and windows.
Crews from Wokingham Road, Newbury, Ascot, Slough, Langley, Maidenhead, Whitley Wood and Windsor fire stations were sent to the scene alongside four police officers.
Footage from the scene showed thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and trains were disrupted until 8pm on Wednesday evening.
READ MORE: Slough fire - Pictures show crews tackling Brunel Way blaze
Slough Borough Council issued a statement on social media during the incident, which read: "Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service are currently attending a fire on Brunel Way in Slough in an industrial unit to the west of Slough railway station.
"Our staff are attending to assist and liaise with any residents affected in nearby streets.
"Please avoid the area if you can."
Many residents were left in shock by the incident, as dozens of people took to social media, with photos and videos of the scene.
One resident said: "The sky over Slough was swallowed by smoke today. Watching that huge plume rise from the fire at the old TVU site was honestly unreal.
"It was a dark day in Slough - quite literally."
Another said: "Unfortunately, this is my place of work. Everyone is out safe but there was lots of flammable equipment inside."
One reported seeing the billowing smoke from as far as the Lidl on Farnham Road.
One lady said on social media during the incident that the building 'collapsed in on itself'.
She said: "I just went to see it after it got put out and the building has collapsed in on itself. It is half the height now.
"There were council workers on my road and they said if it spread, my whole road would be evacuated for our own safety. Luckily, it didn't."

The depot is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GvoR4e8zcgUbgieS6

 

[John Webb]

Brief item on the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service website:

Fire in Slough​

At 4:02pm on Wednesday, 12 August, we received reports of a fire on Brunel Way in Slough.
Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service crews from Wokingham Road, Newbury, Ascot, Slough, Langley, Maidenhead, Whitley Wood and Windsor fire stations were sent to the scene alongside four Officers.
Crews from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service were also sent to the scene alongside an Aerial Ladder Platform and crews from London Fire Brigade
On arrival, crews discovered a fire in an industrial building that had spread to nearby scrubland. Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus used several hose reels and the aerial ladder platform to extinguish the fire.
Crews remain at the scene to damp down any hotspots.

link: https://www.rbfrs.co.uk/incidents/fire-at-a-commercial-premises/fire-in-slough-99/

 

[Purple Train]

I went past it on the 16.30 from Slough that afternoon and merely thought it looked different to usual. Although as I recall, at that point there were no visible flames, just the building looking slightly melted. Absolutely sterling work from the fire brigade in ensuring it didn't spread to any adjacent buildings or that could have been really nasty.

I did notice the trains being disrupted in Windsor, but assumed that it was because the main line was messed up and therefore all the drivers were stuck in Paddington or Reading. So presumably I was either really lucky in going past when I did, or really unobservant. Fire-damaged buildings in the vicinity of Slough station are pretty par for the course, however, so I guess they have the luxury of time in sorting it out.

 

[mr_moo]

If you go along that route again, do get a photo of the aftermath - that would be quite interesting.
Indeed - fire service seems to have done a fab job as they usually do. Kudos to them.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

There is a depot near Slough, I think that stables heritage stock. I hope the fire didn't spread there...

 

[Davester50]

While we don't know the cause, and there's likely plenty flammable materials in a maintenance depot, the massive rise of lithium battery powered devices and tools must be a nightmare for fire safety officers!
It's not just cheap vapes causing mayhem like the Glasgow fire, BA had a phone fire on a Vegas flight recently and their instructions on charging and the amount to carry has changed recently.

 

[CarltonA]

There is a depot near Slough, I think that stables heritage stock. I hope the fire didn't spread there...

Presumably you mean the Slough & Windsor Railway Society, it's the old railway canteen/club. That's a distance away on the other side of the bridge and unaffected I believe. The fire was by the junction of the Windsor branch where the old steam shed and turntable were. There's no heritage stock but a few bits of railwayana kept there.

 

[Towers]

There is a depot near Slough, I think that stables heritage stock. I hope the fire didn't spread there...

Are you thinking of Southall?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Are you thinking of Southall?

I hear you but I wasn't sure if the Slough & Windsor railway society had sidings/stock there

 

[Towers]

I hear you but I wasn't sure if the Slough & Windsor railway society had sidings/stock there

Ah! Fair point!

 

[Purple Train]

If you go along that route again, do get a photo of the aftermath - that would be quite interesting.
Indeed - fire service seems to have done a fab job as they usually do. Kudos to them.

I will, although the statement indicates that the fire was on the 12th rather than the 13th, which makes me feel a bit better about not noticing any smoke at the time!

 

[John Webb]

Presumably you mean the Slough & Windsor Railway Society, it's the old railway canteen/club. That's a distance away on the other side of the bridge and unaffected I believe. The fire was by the junction of the Windsor branch where the old steam shed and turntable were. There's no heritage stock but a few bits of railwayana kept there.

Looking at their website, they are the owners of 0-6-0T Slough Estates No.3, which is at the Middleton Railway, not in Slough.

 

[mr_moo]

I will, although the statement indicates that the fire was on the 12th rather than the 13th, which makes me feel a bit better about not noticing any smoke at the time!

Ooh, good spot. Thank you. I've edited the thread title.

 

[Horizon22]

It's where Slough S&T and P-way are based. I think some of the facility is still available for usage.