Lightning Strike Closes Shops on Stile Hall Parade

No injuries after bricks from chimney topple onto the road

The Fire Brigade at the scene in Chiswick. Picture: Supplied

June 3, 2026

A lightning strike caused structural damage to a building in Chiswick on Tuesday afternoon (2 June), prompting an emergency response and temporary closures of nearby businesses.

The incident occurred on Stile Hall Parade, opposite the Brentford Fountains Leisure Centre, when lightning hit a building shortly after 2:40pm. The force of the strike dislodged bricks from a chimney, sending debris falling onto the ground below.

Despite the dramatic nature of the incident, no injuries have been reported.

The businesses impacted are the Alliance Food Store, Cluck Yeah and NBKICKZ.

London Fire Brigade confirmed it was called to the scene at 2:43pm. A fire engine from Chiswick Fire Station attended, and crews worked to secure the area and make the structure safe. Firefighters remained on site for several hours before handing the incident over to the local authority.

A spokesperson for the brigade said: “The incident was left in the care of the local authority, with firefighters leaving the scene by 18:50.”

The fallout from the strike led to disruption in the immediate area. Three shops on Stile Hall Parade were forced to close as a precaution while the site was assessed. However, Cycleway 9 remained open throughout, and traffic continued to flow along the nearby stretch of Chiswick High Road approaching Kew Bridge.

Chiswick Riverside councillor Gabriella Giles visited the scene shortly after the incident. She later reported experiencing difficulty contacting the relevant department at Hounslow Council in the aftermath after firefighters had said they had not heard back from them over an hour after their arrival. She says it wasn't until 3:45pm that the brigade's control centre was able to speak to council officers. The council's Dangerous Structures Engineer arrived on the site at 6pm.

She said, "I’d like to thank the quick response from the London Fire Brigade in attending the site of the incident and for the way they went about securing the area to ensure that the public were kept safe.

"This is now the third emergency incident that we’ve had in Chiswick Riverside since the start of the year. With each incident, it has highlighted areas for improvement within the council’s resilience processes and it is clear that these need to be implemented as a priority. While the need to ensure that processes are followed, clear and open communication with both councillors and the public to ensure peace of mind and public safety should be paramount."

The debris from the strike spread across the cycleway. Picture: Gabriella Giles

Thunderstorms had swept through the capital during the afternoon and evening, coinciding with the Tube strike. Reports and images shared by residents showed dramatic lightning flashes. A tree on King’s Road in Chelsea was struck and fell across both pavements, blocking traffic for several hours, and heavy rain caused flooding at Belmont station in Sutton and a power cut at Limehouse.

A council spokesperson said, “We are aware of a suspected lightning strike affecting a property on Stile Hall Parade, Chiswick.

“Following notification from the London Fire Brigade, the Council activated its Dangerous Structures service to assess the building and worked with Highways colleagues to put safety measures in place to protect the public.

“This is the only reported incident of this nature that we are currently aware of. We are continuing to liaise with our partners and the property owners to ensure the building and surrounding highway remain safe.”