Four pulled from blaze as 70 firefighters battle flames in block of flats

FOUR people have been pulled from a blaze and one rushed to hospital as firefighters battled huge flames on the eighth floor of a residential building.

Three people were treated at the scene by paramedics as the fire tore through the flats in Tower Hamlets, East London, at around 10.30 last night.

A five-bedroom flat had caught alight, London Fire Brigade confirmed.

Footage taken at the scene showed smoke billowing from the building.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters battled to extinguish the flames as horrified onlookers watched on.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation, but the fire was under control just before midnight.

Station Commander Matt Williams said: “Firefighters evacuated 20 people from the building and rescued four people via an internal staircase.

“One of the Brigade’s new 32-metre ladders from Old Kent Road Fire Station was used as a water tower and crews also used drones to provide an aerial view of the incident and increase situational awareness.

“Abbott Road is closed at the A13 junction down to the junction by Blair Street.

“Firefighters are expected to remain on scene throughout the night and we urge people to avoid the area whilst crews continue to work to make the scene safe.”

A London Fire Brigade statement read: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to a fire on New Village Avenue in Tower Hamlets.

“A five-roomed flat on the eighth floor of the building was alight. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued four people from the building.

“They were assessed on scene by London Ambulance Service crews and another person was taken to hospital.

“The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers received 40 calls to the blaze.”

News Source: THE SUN