London fire LIVE: Over 100 evacuated as 225 firefighters tackle huge flat blaze
Scaffolding surrounding the building, as well as the ground floor and the roof are alight.
Dagenham: Firefighters battle blaze at block of flats
Forty fire engines and around 225 firefighters are battling a blaze at a block of flats in Dagenham, east London.
More than 100 people were evacuated from the building on Freshwater Road.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was called at 2.44am on Monday with crews from Dagenham, Ilford, Romford, Barking and surrounding fire stations at the scene.
The brigade said parts of the scaffolding surrounding the building, as well as the ground floor and the roof, were alight.
Four people had to receive medical treatment from the London Ambulance Service.
Two people were taken to hospital because of their injuries.
The cause of the fire has not been established.
Video footage showed thick black smoke rising above the building. The fire brigade used a drone to see where the flames were most intense.
Station commander Alan Bendell is at the scene and said: "The fire is producing heavy smoke and we're advising local residents to keep windows and doors closed.
"Two of the brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders are being used at the scene as aerial water towers to assist with tackling the fire from height."
An ambulance service spokesperson said: “We treated four patients at the scene and took two of them to a hospital."
For all the latest updates, follow our live blog below. Are you at the scene? Did you see what happened, email [email protected].
London Fire Bridage refuse to comment on cladding
Asked whether the removal of unsafe cladding has contributed to the fire, Mr Goulbourne said: “Clearly this is going to require a complex investigation, to get to the understanding of how the fire spread. It’s too early to give any detail on that but it will form part of our investigation.”
Resident describes moment he and his family were woken up by banging on the door
Monty Singh, his pregnant wife and two children, aged three and eight, escaped the burning building.
He says the fire started on the ground floor.
Mr Singh told the Telegraph: “The children were very worried and panicked.
“A woman on the first floor had smelled smoke and was then running around banging on doors to get people out.”
The Singh family have lived in their one-bedroom apartment for six years.
Mr Singh added: “We don’t know when we are going to get back in. I just hope our stuff is ok."
Home Secretary releases statement
Read Yvette Cooper's statement below.
My thoughts are with all those affected by the major fire incident in Dagenham. I thank London Fire Brigade & all emergency services on the ground for their bravery and swift response.
\u2014 Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) August 26, 2024
I and @ukhomeoffice Ministers are receiving updates on the incident from operational partners.
Rest centre set up near the scene
A rest centre has been set up at Beacontree Heath leisure centre, Patrick Goulbourne, incident commander and an Assistant Commissioner at the London Fire Brigade has confirmed.
He said: “Officers with our partners are stationed there to help residents."
Cladding was being replaced at block of flats
The "non-compliant" cladding was being removed before the fire on Monday.
A company involved in the work said that the removal was focused mainly on the fifth and sixth floors.
It's not yet known what caused the fire.
More pictures from the scene of the fire
Pictures show the fire at its peak and the damaged caused after the flames were quelled.
Full statement from London Fire Brigade Commissioner
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “We were called to the incident at 0244 this morning.
“The first crew arrived within five minutes and the second crew arrived within six minutes. An aerial appliance also arrived in under six minutes. To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we have declared a major incident.
"The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade. A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is underway.
“The Brigade’s Control Officers have taken 16 calls to the fire, including successfully giving vital fire survival guidance to a number of people using our Fire Survival Guidance App, which allows information to be exchanged between Control and the incident ground in a timely, accurate and consistent manner.
“We are also using new equipment such as drones and our 64-metre turntable ladders and 32-metre turntable ladders to provide incident commanders with a vantage point for assessing the scene. They are also being used as water towers to deliver water on to the fire from above.
“The Brigade has stood up full strategic arrangements to deal with the incident and a rest centre has been set up at Beacontree Health and Leisure Centre. LFB officers are stationed at the rest centre to support residents.”
Fire Brigade Commissioner declares 'major incident'
London Fire Brigade Commissioner Andy Roe has declared a "major incident."
Commissioner Andy Roe has provided an update on the fire in #Dagenham.
\u2014 London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 26, 2024
He said: "To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we have declared a major incident.
"A significant search and rescue operation is underway"
Read more: https://t.co/gMyTp2ZinV pic.twitter.com/LFtOfNNapQ
40 fire engines and 225 firefighters responded to the fire
London Fire Bridage deployed a lot of resources to tackle the blaze.
There are now 40 fire engines and around 225 firefighters attending the flat fire in #Dagenham.
\u2014 London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 26, 2024
Crews are working hard to bring the fire under control https://t.co/gMyTp2ZinV pic.twitter.com/KpcDLbUO6P
Video footage shows the extent of the fire
Video footage shared on social media shows the fire.
Fire at #Dagenham on one of the apartment that was undergoing renovation @LondonFire are fighting hard to put out the fire\u2026 my mates managed to escape the building on time pic.twitter.com/9q4bie9b0u
\u2014 Thuzhiyavan! (@drizzlesoflove) August 26, 2024
Where is the incident happening?
Locals told to keep windows and doors closed
Station Commander Alan Bendell, who is at the scene of the fire, said: "The fire is producing heavy smoke and we're advising local residents to keep windows and doors closed.
"Two of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders are being used at the scene as aerial water towers to assist with tackling the fire from height.
"Freshwater Road is closed to traffic, so please avoid the area where possible."
