Smoke seen across London after fire breaks out in shop

Josh Milton | Senior science and technology reporter Published August 3, 2026 9:19am Updated August 3, 2026 9:23am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A fire has erupted in a shop under a penthouse in Hackney, east London, sending huge plumes of smoke across the capital. The fire on Hackney Road broke out at around 7.50am and burned for nearly an hour before it was put out, the fire brigade confirmed to Metro. Social media users said they could see the tower of smoke from as far away as Blackheath, south east London. A witness told Metro: ‘Didn’t seem like much from far away but got much worse. ‘I was cycling down there. Hope everyone is okay too, looks pretty awful.’ People have been urged to avoid the area this mo