Overview
- A large fire broke out at a bathroom showroom on Selbourne Road in Luton, which began early on Saturday, August 15, 2026, and was visible from nearby railway lines.
- Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue deployed 10 engines, three aerial platforms, two water carriers and an incident command unit to the scene, with support from Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire crews.
- Properties on nearby Wingate Road were evacuated and residents were told to keep windows and doors closed because of thick smoke, while at least four road junctions around Selbourne Road remained closed.
- Fire services said all people have been accounted for and that crews are expected to stay on site for the rest of the day, and authorities have confirmed the cause is not yet known and is under investigation.
- The blaze comes during a nationwide heatwave and a rise in wildfires that prompted emergency alerts and temporary restrictions on disposable barbecues, creating extra demand on fire and utility services and causing reports of low or no water pressure locally.