FIREFIGHTERS are still tackling a blaze 12 hours after it broke out.

The fire led to 200 residents being evacuated early this morning.

There were at least two explosions as gas cylinders exploded after a warehouse caught alight in Canal Approach, Deptford.

The fire has spread to another warehouse.

Firefighters discovered there were a number of gas cylinders - including two acetylene cannisters - at the site after they arrived on the scene at around 12.30am.

They are currently in the process of cooling them but this could take 24 hours, meaning residents cannot return home until the early hours of tomorrow morning.

However, a spokesman at the scene said the cylinders were not as close to the flames as first believed.

They have been moved to a safe area to cool down.

A 200 metre hazard zone set up after the fire broke out has been removed and a smaller restriction zone put in place.

This could mean some residents may be able to return home sooner than expected and a railway line running through the evacuated area could re-open earlier than expected.

Smoke is still pouring from the site and flames occasionally reignite.

Residents are being looked after by Lewisham Council after being evacuated at around 1am.

They were evacuated to Deptford Park Primary School in Evelyn Street but moved to Evelyn Community Centre, Kingfisher Square, to allow pupils into the school.

Another school, Sir Francis Drake primary school in Scawen Road, has closed today because of the fire.

Many are at the scene waiting for news about when they can return home.

Chiew Chuah says he only found out about the blaze after the emergency services alerted him.

The 28-year-old said: "A police officer woke me up.

"I went outside and saw a big cloud of smoke and ran back inside to get my jeans.

"I was at the school and it was really strange, you see everyone, all the faces you have never seen before.

"People were just sitting around."

The engineer says the residents were told it may be 24 hours before they could return home after they were evacuated.

A Deptford firefighter reported at least three explosions at the scene.

Around 10 fire appliances and 50 firefighters have been fighting the fire.

Fire crews from Deptford, Lewisham and Forest Hill were called to the scene.

They have been using aerial appliances to tackle the flames so they do not get to close to the cylinders.

Thermal imaging cameras are used to see whether a cylinder has warmed up.

The fire engulfed around 75 per cent of two warehouses, a brewery storage unit and a building contractor's warehouse.

Deptford crew manager Kevin Gergan, who attended the fire, said: "It was an intense fire and got worse through the night."

Mr Gergan plans to inspect the building for safety later today when the fire is out.

Deptford MP Joan Ruddock contacted the police regarding the incident at 8am and received a briefing on the situation at 8.30am.

She was assured most of the residents are staying with friends and family, and the rest are being looked after by the council.

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