A major incident has been declared following a massive fire that ripped through a tower block in east London
A ‘significant’ search and rescue operation is underway after a fire broke out in a bloke of flats in east London.
More than 200 firefighters and 40 engines from the London Fire Brigade were called to the blaze on Freshwater Road, Dagenham just before 3am.
Scaffolding surrounding the buildings is alight, with the ground floor, sixth floor and roof also catching on fire.
More than 100 people have been evacuated, with four treated by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) at the scene, with two taken to hospital.
Those who fled in the early hours have told of their dramatic escape.
Martin Perry-Taylor, 44, described smoke engulfing the building with ‘piercing screams’ waking him up.
He said: ‘It was madness. I woke to all this screaming and alarms and just chaos.
‘It was dreadful. There were piercing screams. Smoke was everywhere.
More than 200 firefighters and 40 engines from the London Fire Brigade were called to the blaze (Picture: UKNIP)
Barefoot residents wrapped in a sheet are evacuated as firefighters work at the scene of a large fire (Picture: George Cracknell Wright)
‘It was unreal. I got out straight away and there was just mayhem with people fleeing and getting out.
‘It was my worst nightmare.’
The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the building’s ‘non-compliant’ cladding was in the process of being removed, BBC news reports.
A significant search and rescue operation is underway, the LFB said, and all parts of the building including a nursey on the ground floor is said to be affected.
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said the LFB had declared a major incident to allow the service to focus its resources on the fire.
He continued: ‘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 under way.’
A man whose daughter was having a sleepover with friends in the building said the children were ‘terrified’ when the fire broke out.
The whole of the building is affected by the fire, including scaffolding surrounding the property and the roof (Picture: Shutterstock)
Scaffolding surrounding the buildings is alight (Picture: UKNIP)
Resident Dinesh Raj told the BBC he got a call the building was on fire at 3am and the family left the building as soon as they smelt smoke.
Station Commander Alan Bendell, who is on scene, 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.’
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