Ealing Instant Community Response Blog

Citizen Alert - Explosions Near Heathrow and Possibly Near Ealing

At 18:44 this evening, Ealing Council received word that several explosions have been reported. Some seem to be at Heathrow Airport, but some have been reported as being in or near Ealing. We will bring you further news as it becomes available. Below are useful articles that will help you help yourselves-and each other. Ealing Council is working with Fire, Police and Emergency Medical Services and we are in communications with them. This website is the easiest way for us to communicate with you--and for you to communicate with us. In addition to the material presented below, we provide links to important and useful websites along the right hand side of this website. Use them!

We expect that the BBC will get news more quickly than us, at least at first. Here is a link to the BBC Website.

Update: 18:53. Police report that there are at least four verified explosions, two at or near Heathrow, one in or near Osterley Park, and one in Ealing. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Update 2: 18:57 Fire officials confirm one explosion was in Ealing. There may well be casualties. We will provide more information as it becomes available.

Update 3: 20:32 We are informed that mobile telephone service has been interrupted for all major carriers, including Orange, 02 and Vodaphone. 999 telephone dispatchers are overwhelmed. Please see below (or click here) for how to get help if you need it.

Update 4: The BBC has reported that explosions are possible caused by rocket attacks aimed at Heathrow Airport. We will update this when possible.

Advice for Citizens - General

This information is from the Ealing Council archive for citizen guidance during disasters. It is not specific to the explosions that happened about half an hour ago, but is general good advice. We will publish specific information on this situation very soon--within 15 minutes (19:15), we hope.

Most people survive disasters, and they do so by using good sense.

If you're safe at home, for the moment, stay there. We add here that if you are not at home, get inside--for now.

If you're at home, fill pots and pans with water. Close your windows.

It often happens that mobile telephone service is interrupted at times like this. Don't be unnecessarily frightened if you cannot contact someone by mobile phone.

We will publish more guidance very soon, and we will try and tailor it for the current situation. We will very soon publish information on what to do if you are injured or have specific medical needs.

Tell My Friends I'm Okay

Use the comments feature below to write your name and location if you are okay and you want your friends and family to know. We understand that mobile telephone service has in fact been interrupted, so this may be useful. You might want to put a telephone number in for people to use later.

We will not publish your information on the Internet. When your friends and family contact us, we will tell them what you have told us. This is to protect you--and not just your privacy.

I Need Help

We have been informed that 999 is swamped with emergency calls. You may not be able to get through to report an emergency.

Using the Comments feature below, please indicate if you or someone with you needs help. Include your address, telephone number and the nature of your problem. Ealing Council liaison officers are in radio communications with first responders--ambulance, fire and police--and we will send your information to them as it comes in. We will use the comments features to let you know when assistance has been dispatched.

Your names and addresses will not appear on the Internet. We will hold them in our files. This is to protect you and your property--hope that's all right.

I Can Help Someone

It is normal for emergency services to be stretched thin in times of disaster. If you are available to help someone near you, use the Comments feature below to give your name, address and any special skills you have, such as first aid qualifications. Include your email address. We may ask you to go to the aid of someone near you.

Type O Positive Blood Needed at Hillingdon Hospital

If you have type O Positive blood and are in good health and willing to donate a pint of blood, there is an urgent need for donors at Hillingdon Hospital. Click here to see the location of Hillingdon Hospital on a map.

Type O Positive blood is acceptable for transfusion to all in need of blood.

Injured people from Heathrow Airport are being transported there and we anticipate that blood will be needed for transfusions.

Warning-Air Alert

We have reports that fumes and or toxic substances have been released, caused by the explosions. Please stay indoors until further notice.

Update: Fire officials tell us that there is a problem, but not as serious as it might have been. The toxic fumes are from petrol burning at Heathrow Airport. These fumes are being dissipated rapidly by the prevailing winds.

Advice: Stay in doors for a few hours. Shut your windows. If you have respiratory problems, don't go outside unless it is absolutely necessary until tomorrow. We'll update this if needed. Here is a link to the Borough of Richmond's advice on what to do in case of toxic fumes or smoke. It seems sound and sensible.

Some Chemists Are Open With Police Supervision

The following dispensing chemists are open with police supervision. Although we are still recommending that you stay indoors, if you urgently require medication and do not wish to burden our overcrowded hospitals and surgeries, these chemists may be able to help you.

Note: If you click on the chemists name, you will see a map showing their location.

Buttery Chemist
186 South Ealing Road
London W5 4RJ
Tel: (020 8560 3532)

Cross Chemist 5 Royal Parade London W5 1ET Tel: (020 8998 3515)

Help For Those Arriving From Heathrow

Police report that many people are arriving in Heathrow, fleeing what is evidently a chaotic situation there. Ealing Council welcomes you, and we hope to be able to help you.

If you require medical attention, there is a list of Hospitals on the right. If you are uninjured and wish simply to rest and recuperate, some local hotels still have some rooms (Clicking on the name of the hotel will take you to a map showing its location):

The Kings Arms -55 The Grove, London, W5 5DX - 020 8567 0606
Grange Lodge Hotel -  50 Grange Rd, London, W5 5BX - 020 8567 1049
Abbey Lodge Hotel - 51 Grange Park, London, W5 3PR - 020 8567 7914

If they are full, or if you are unable to get to one of them, the London School of Management is receiving people now. They have clean linen, beds, and are organizing food and drink. There are medical personnel there. Click here to see the London School of Management on a map.

Osterley Park

Police and fire officials have asked us to ask you to stay away from Osterley Park. They need space and time to treat the injured.

However if you are in or near Osterley Park and are accessing the Internet from a mobile device or laptop computer, we have a heartfelt request: Please offer your Internet capable device to a uniformed police or fire officer. They are short of kit and can use your help.

All of us in Ealing thank you for your support.

Who I Am

My name is Tom and I am contracted by Ealing Council to operate this website in case of emergency. The Council thought it would be better to have this site operated remotely. I am in touch with officials of Ealing Council and all providers of emergency services by radio. I live in London with my wife and cat.

I am watching BBC coverage of this as I write, and photos from the air show severe damage in Osterley and the North part of Ealing, but the rest of the Borough seems to be in good shape. It is difficult for me to remain calm and dispassionate during this time. I wish I were there with you, trying to help. My heart goes out to you and I hope that this service is of use to you.

Good luck to you all.