Fire chiefs say sprinklers contained Sainsbury’s DC blaze

London fire chiefs say that the sprinkler system Sainsbury’s had installed helped prevent potentially devastating damage to its distribution depot in Charlton after a blaze broke out on the site on Monday afternoon. 

London Fire Brigade called on other businesses to consider sprinklers for their own premises.

The Brigade was called to the fire in Sainsbury’s Thameside Depot on Lombard Wall in Charlton at 16:08 and the fire was under control by 18:29.

Ten fire engines and over 70 firefighters tackled the blaze which started in a lorry parked in one of the loading bays outside the warehouse before spreading to six other lorries and part of the depot’s wall. The cause is under investigation.

The Brigade believes the activation of sprinklers inside the building, and the quick actions of its firefighters, prevented the blaze from spreading further into the warehouse.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mark Andrews said: "There is absolutely no doubt that in this case the sprinkler system, along with the quick actions of our crews, prevented a much more serious fire from spreading any further into the depot and causing potentially millions of pounds worth of damage to both the building and stock inside.

"This incident highlights the clear benefits of sprinklers to businesses and we would urge all companies to install them. As well as being potentially life saving devices, sprinklers and other fire suppression systems help with business continuity by minimising disruption and allowing businesses to get back to normal as soon as possible.”