The Aftermath of a Film Set Explosion near The O2 Arena

An incident that was supposed to be a pre-planned “controlled explosion” on an east London film set quickly turned into a chaotic situation near The O2 arena in Silvertown. The London Fire Brigade reported that the fire, which followed the controlled explosion, spiraled “out of control,” causing significant damage to vehicles on the set.

Firefighters responded swiftly to the scene, working diligently to extinguish the fire and bring the situation under control. Despite the destruction of one van, most of a car, and a lorry (truck) on the film set, there have been no reports of any injuries resulting from the incident. The fire was reported at 7:51 p.m. UTC and was successfully contained by 9:02 p.m.

Crews from various fire stations, including Poplar, Millwall, Shadwell, and East Greenwich, converged on the scene to combat the flames. Twenty-five firefighters and four fire engines were deployed to the open-air yard near Dock Road and Trinity Buoy Wharf to tackle the fire head-on.

The local police force, Newham MPS, took to Twitter to reassure the public that the explosions heard near The O2 in Greenwich were part of a planned filming event. They emphasized that there was no risk to public safety in the area and that the situation was being properly managed.

Confusion arose when a burning truck marked with the words “BBC News World” was captured in videos of the incident. However, BBC News quickly clarified that they had no involvement in the incident. Despite the speculations and assumptions, the exact film set affected by the fire remains undisclosed for the time being.

The aftermath of the uncontrolled fire near The O2 arena serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of such events, even in controlled environments. The collaborative efforts of firefighters and law enforcement agencies were instrumental in managing the situation and preventing any casualties. As more details emerge about the incident, it is essential to reflect on the importance of safety measures and contingency plans in the film industry to prevent similar occurrences in the future.