A major fire tore through a residential tower block on Rochester Row in Westminster this evening, with 75 firefighters deployed to the scene to tackle the flames as terrified residents fled.
The blaze broke out shortly before 8 PM on the sixth floor of Emanuel House, a seven-storey building reportedly owned by Westminster City Council. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) received 23 emergency calls as thick smoke and flames erupted from the upper levels of the block.
“Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are responding to a fire on Rochester Row,” an LFB spokesperson confirmed. “Two of the Brigade’s 32m ladders and the Drone Team were deployed.”
Crews from Lambeth, Soho, Paddington, and other surrounding stations responded rapidly. The fire was brought under control by 9:32pm, approximately 100 minutes after the first call was received at 7.50pm.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Videos shared online show the terrifying scale of the incident, with flames bursting from windows and dark plumes of smoke towering into the sky.
Authorities are advising the public to avoid the area as roads remain closed and investigations continue.
