Massive Fire Erupts at Canary Wharf High-Rise
Chaos and thick smoke engulfed 25 Cabot Square in Canary Wharf this evening as a major blaze broke out on the top floor of the Morgan Stanley office tower. Smoke was seen billowing from the rooftop shortly after 5.13pm, sparking a massive emergency response.
60 Firefighters Battle Electrical Fire
The London Fire Brigade deployed eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters to tackle the flames, which erupted in an electrical intake room on the 17th floor. The fire’s cause is still unknown, but it has triggered a full evacuation of the building.
Witnesses described the tense atmosphere outside as hundreds of workers were forced onto nearby pavements, while police and ambulance crews sealed off Cabot Square. Access roads remain closed, bringing traffic to a standstill around the scene.
Eyewitness Reports and Official Statement
“It’s an electrical fire on the roof. We’ve all been told to leave,” said one employee.
Others feared the fire shaft may have spread to multiple floors, with images showing thick grey smoke pouring from the top floor as firefighters scaled the building to douse the flames.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson confirmed:
“Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been called to a fire in an electrical intake room on Cabot Square in Canary Wharf. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”
What We Know So Far
- Location: 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf
- Fire Reported: 5.13pm, 21 August
- Response: 8 fire engines, 60 firefighters
- Fire Cause: Electrical intake room blaze (top floor)
- Status: Building fully evacuated
- Occupants: Morgan Stanley offices
- Transport: Local roads closed, traffic halted
Emergency Services Remain On Scene
Fire crews from numerous London stations including Poplar, Shadwell, and Lewisham remain at the scene alongside the London Ambulance Service. Luckily, no injuries have been reported so far. Investigations into the fire’s cause are ongoing, with authorities expected to be on site well into the evening.
