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A fire broke out today in a tower block in Catford, London, sending thick black smoke into the sky and engulfing multiple floors of the building. Around 70 firefighters, supported by 10 fire engines, were dispatched to battle the blaze, which was first reported just before 1 p.m.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) received over 50 emergency calls about the fire, and footage shared online showed flames leaping from the windows of flats on the ninth and tenth floors. Smoke from the inferno could be seen from miles away.
Local residents described the chaotic scene, with some witnessing a person waving for help from one of the upper floors. “It was mad. It was crazy,” one witness said. Employees at the nearby Catford Food Centre also recounted seeing the massive flames, with one worker noting, “The flames were massive. Everyone was on the road watching and taking videos.”
By 2:30 p.m., the fire was brought under control, and there were no reported injuries. Fire crews used aerial appliances to tackle the flames at height while crowds gathered on the streets below.
A spokesperson for the LFB said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a fire at a block of flats on Rosenthal Road in Catford. Two flats on the ninth and tenth floors are currently alight. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.”
The incident comes on the same day that the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, which investigated the 2017 fire that tragically claimed 72 lives, was released. The inquiry into Grenfell has prompted widespread scrutiny of fire safety regulations across the UK.
The cause of today’s fire remains under investigation.
