A horror fire in an east London high rise has left 11 people injured and dozens forced to evacuate. Fire crews raced to Bethnal Green’s Bradbeer House just before midnight when thick smoke was seen belching into the air around the building.
Emergency responders evacuated dozens of residents as horrified bystanders watched the bright orange flames lighting up the night sky. Firefighters were seen battling to put out the blaze and thick smoke billowing above. In total, eight fire engines carrying 60 firefighters responded to the inferno.
They used specialist breathing apparatus and fire escape hoods to drag seven people from the apartment block. The fire was so devastating that 17 people required treatment from the London Ambulance Service. An additional 11 had to be taken to hospital before the inferno was brought under control around 1am.
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The London Fire Brigade said that three flats spread between the ground, first and second floors suffered fire damage. This morning, images of the charred building showed broken glass and debris lining the floor.
Daniel Campiao, 35, a geographer from Portugal has lived in London for eight years. He lives next door to the burnt out building. He told The Mirror: “I was in my room last night when I suddenly smelled smoke. I thought there may have been a fire inside my building but when I leant out of my window I could see the smoke outside. At one stage I could hear people shouting The fire engines arrived and they were here all night. I’m just relieved no-one died.”
Another local resident, who asked not to be named, was standing outside the Bangabandhu Primary school on Braintree Street. She said: “It was pretty terrifying for a while. The flames were mainly coming from a first floor flat. There were huge plumes of black smoke – and there was a really acrid smell.
“The fire engines arrived pretty quickly and it took them over an hour to put the fire out. There were a lot of people on the street watching. Someone said it started through the battery of one of those electric bikes but I don’t know if that’s true.”
This morning there was still a strong stench of smoke. Charred and badly burnt items littered the street outside the housing complex in Bethnal Green. Among them were children’s toys, bicycle parts and a chest of drawers.
An LFB spokesperson said an investigation is currently underway to identify the cause of the fire. The LFB deployed crews from Bethnal Green, Poplar, Shadwell and Shoreditch, as well as surrounding stations.
A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 11.38pm yesterday (9 April) to reports of a fire in Cornwall Avenue, Bethnal Green. We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, advanced paramedics and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team. We treated 17 patients in total.
“We took 11 patients to hospital and six patients were cared for and discharged at the scene.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled a flat fire on Cornwall Avenue in Bethnal Green.
“Part of three flats on the ground, first and second floors of the residential block were damaged by fire.
“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used fire escape hoods to rescue seven people from the building. 17 people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews and 11 of those people were taken to hospital.
“The Brigade’s Control Officers took 36 calls to the fire and gave vital fire survival guidance to three residents on how to stay safe before firefighters arrived.
“The Brigade was called at 2338 and the fire was under control by 0105.
“Fire crews from Shadwell, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Poplar and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
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