Kingston Market Fire Linked to Faulty Fridge, Kingston 2026

Key Points

• A fire at Kingston Market in south-west London is believed to have been caused by a fridge with an electrical fault.
• The blaze began in Kingston-upon-Thames town centre at about 4.30am on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.
• Eight people were evacuated from nearby properties.
• Several stalls and businesses in the historic market square were destroyed or damaged.
• London Fire Brigade said the suspected appliance still requires further verification by an electrical testing firm.
• The fire has been classified as accidental, while the Metropolitan Police said it found no suspicious circumstances.
• No injuries have been reported.
• Kingston Market Place remains closed, with affected businesses unable to trade until further notice.
• Kingston Council is working to make the damaged buildings safe before clean-up work begins.
• The council and market operator Between the Bridges are considering support options for traders affected by the fire.
• A major redevelopment proposal for the market had already been submitted to Kingston Council before the blaze.

Kingston-upon-Thames (South London News) October 8, 2026 — A fire that destroyed parts of the historic Kingston Market is believed to have been started by a fridge with an electrical fault, although the suspected cause still requires further verification.

The blaze broke out at about 4.30am on Tuesday, 6 October, in Kingston-upon-Thames town centre. Eight people were evacuated from properties near the market, while a number of stalls and businesses in the 800-year-old square were damaged or completely destroyed.

According to a report by Tom Place of The Standard, London Fire Brigade said the suspected faulty appliance had not yet been confirmed as the cause. The brigade said the matter required further verification by an electrical testing firm and did not disclose where the fridge had been located before the fire began.

The fire has been declared accidental by London Fire Brigade. A Metropolitan Police investigation found no suspicious circumstances, and no injuries have been reported.

What happened at Kingston Market?

The fire spread through Kingston Market Place during the early hours of Tuesday morning. London Fire Brigade received its first call at 4.33am and mobilised crews from Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden and nearby fire stations.

Four fire engines and about 25 firefighters attended the scene. The brigade said it received six calls about the incident, and the fire was extinguished by 6.08am.

The flames affected market stalls and nearby businesses in the historic square. Images and video published by The Standard showed flames and thick smoke rising from the stalls, while the surrounding historic buildings were illuminated by an orange glow.

Several stalls were left as piles of twisted metal and ash after the fire. Shopfronts and other structures in the market area were also affected.

A report by Nicholas Cecil, Megan Howe and Tom Place of The Standard said the fire lasted for at least an hour and a half. Firefighters worked to prevent the flames from spreading further into surrounding buildings.

How did residents describe the fire?

Colin, a salon partner at Toni & Guy Kingston who lives above the salon in Market Place, told The Standard that he was woken by the heat and sound of the fire.

“We were woken up by the heat and the sound of the fire,” he said.

“We could just see an orange glow around the curtains.”

Colin recorded photographs and video of the fire at about 4.45am. The material showed flames moving through the market stalls as firefighters tackled the blaze.

He said the building where he lives was not affected by the fire. According to The Standard, Colin attributed this partly to the direction of the wind, saying:

“Luckily for us, the wind was going in the other direction.”

Toni & Guy Kingston also expressed its support for those affected by the incident. In a statement posted on Instagram, the business said its thoughts were with everyone affected and thanked firefighters and emergency services for their quick response and hard work.

Were there any injuries or arrests?

No injuries have been reported following the fire.

The Metropolitan Police said officers were called by the London Ambulance Service at 4.49am on Tuesday after receiving reports of a fire in Market Place, Kingston. Officers attended alongside London Fire Brigade and ambulance service crews.

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said no injuries had been reported. The police investigation found no suspicious circumstances, and officers are not treating the fire as suspicious.

A cordon was placed around the area while firefighters and police officers worked to secure the scene and establish what had caused the blaze.

London Fire Brigade initially said the cause was under investigation by the brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service. The later assessment that a fridge with an electrical fault may have started the fire has not been fully confirmed and remains subject to electrical testing.

Which businesses and stalls were affected?

A range of stalls in Kingston Market Place were destroyed by the fire. Nearby shops and businesses were also impacted, including local branches of Lush, Greggs, Hotter and a bureau de change.

Some stalls and shops that escaped damage have already resumed trading. However, businesses within the cordoned-off section remain closed until the area is considered safe.

Kingston Market traditionally includes a variety of independent traders and food businesses. The market has included a fishmonger, greengrocer, florist, artisan bakery and food stalls.

The closure means traders in the affected section cannot operate from their normal locations while safety checks, building work and clean-up preparations continue.

When will Kingston Market reopen?

Kingston Market Place will remain closed for the foreseeable future, according to Kingston Council. Businesses within the closed-off area will not be allowed to trade until the London Fire Brigade and Metropolitan Police investigations have progressed and the site has been made safe.

On Thursday, Kingston Council said work was under way to make the damaged buildings safe. Clean-up operations are expected to begin once the site has been declared safe.

The council said it was working with Between the Bridges, the operator appointed to run Kingston Ancient Market, to examine options for supporting traders affected by the fire.

The council also said it would continue supporting traders and businesses in the surrounding area while work continued at the market.

No reopening date has been announced. The timing will depend on the condition of the buildings, the completion of safety checks and the progress of the investigations.

What has Kingston Council said?

Andreas Kirsch, leader of Kingston Council, said the authority was working to secure the site and support traders.

“We’re working as hard as we can to get the site safe and secure, and to support traders to get back to work as soon as possible,” he said.

“Our priority now is to continue to support those affected and help ensure our much-loved market recovers as soon as possible.”

In an earlier statement following the fire, Councillor Kirsch said he was shocked and saddened by the incident. He described the Ancient Market as being at the heart of the community and said his thoughts were with traders, business owners and residents affected by the fire.

He added that the council was working with London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police to support their enquiries, ensure the immediate safety of the area and prioritise the recovery of the market.

A council spokesperson said the fire had damaged several market stalls and businesses. The spokesperson confirmed that the Market Place had been cordoned off and that businesses in the closed area would not trade until further notice.

How did local organisations respond?

Members of All Saints Church, which is next to Kingston Market Place, thanked the firefighters and police officers who attended the incident.

In a statement reported by The Standard, church members said they were shocked and saddened by the overnight fire. They expressed gratitude to local emergency crews, saying their efforts prevented the flames from fully taking hold of surrounding buildings and stopped the incident from becoming an even greater disaster.

The church also offered prayers for people affected by the fire, including those whose homes and businesses were impacted.

Emergency services were required to work in the early morning around historic buildings and occupied properties. The evacuation of eight people helped reduce the immediate risk to residents while crews dealt with the blaze.

What is the history of Kingston Market?

A market has been located in Kingston for centuries, with the oldest surviving records dating back to the early 1200s.

The Ancient Market is located in the centre of Kingston-upon-Thames and has traditionally operated seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm. It has been home to permanent stalls selling fresh food, flowers, baked goods and other products.

The market is more than a trading location for independent businesses. It is also a long-established part of Kingston town centre and a familiar meeting point for residents, visitors and shoppers.

The fire damaged part of a market square that has continued to serve the local community for hundreds of years. The closure therefore affects both the traders operating in the area and people who use the market as part of their regular visits to Kingston town centre.

Was the market already due to be redeveloped?

Before the fire, Between the Bridges had submitted plans to Kingston Council for a major redevelopment of Kingston Market.

The proposals, submitted in January, included replacement market stalls, a central piazza, a restaurant, a bar and a roof terrace. The plans also included refurbishment of the Market House for a new restaurant or café, the relocation of a statue, additional external seating, improved waste storage facilities and upgraded toilets.

The planning application had not received a decision at the time of the fire.

Between the Bridges was appointed by Kingston Council to operate Kingston Ancient Market from 1 April 2025. The operator also has experience running the Between the Bridges market on London’s South Bank, Venn Street Market in Clapham and Winterville.

When it took over the Kingston market, the operator said it wanted to create a vibrant venue with a distinctive identity and a strong sense of community.

The fire and the resulting safety work may now affect the immediate operation of the market, while the future of any proposed redevelopment remains subject to the council’s planning process.

What happens next?

London Fire Brigade and its testing contractors are expected to continue examining the suspected fridge and the circumstances in which the fire started.

The electrical fault theory has not been confirmed. Further testing will be required before the appliance can be formally identified as the source of the blaze.

Kingston Council’s immediate priorities are to secure the damaged buildings, maintain the cordon and support affected traders. Clean-up work will begin once the site is considered safe.

The Metropolitan Police has found no suspicious circumstances, meaning the incident is currently being treated as accidental rather than deliberate. The market’s reopening will depend on safety assessments, building work and the conclusion of relevant investigations.

What does the fire mean for Kingston traders and residents?

The immediate effect for traders in the damaged section is the loss of access to their stalls and business premises. They will not be able to resume trading there until the affected area is declared safe.

Residents and visitors should expect restricted access around Market Place while safety work and clean-up operations continue. Businesses outside the damaged and cordoned-off section may continue operating, but activity across the wider market area is likely to be affected by the closure.

For traders, the council’s work with Between the Bridges is expected to focus on practical support and possible arrangements during the disruption. The extent and duration of that support have not yet been announced.

For Kingston town centre, the fire creates an immediate interruption to one of its long-established public markets. Its longer-term effect will depend on the condition of the damaged structures, the support available to traders, the timing of the clean-up and any decisions about the redevelopment proposals already before Kingston Council.