Massive Blaze Hits East London Tower Block
Seventy firefighters and ten fire engines raced to tackle a fierce fire erupting on the ninth floor of Gayton House, a tower block in Bow, East London. The alarm was raised just after 11pm on Saturday night.
Firefighters Battle Blaze With High-Tech Gear
Crews quickly set up a Bridgehead control point inside the block. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus charged into the smoke-filled flat, using hose reels to fight the flames. Two teams also conducted a thorough search of the property.
Other residents on the ninth floor were evacuated, while around 50 people self-evacuated before the fire brigade arrived. Those living in unaffected flats stayed put, safe from the spreading blaze.
Massive Response and Quick Control
- Ten fire engines, including a 64-metre turntable ladder and two command units, were deployed.
- The Brigade’s 999 control centre received 22 emergency calls reporting the visible fire.
- The fire was under control in under an hour, by 11.49pm.
Cause Still Unknown
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said:
“Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a flat fire on Chiltern Road in Bow. The whole flat on the ninth floor is alight. The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
Fire crews from Stratford and nearby stations were at the scene throughout the incident. The investigation into what sparked the blaze is ongoing.
