A HUGE fire has ripped through a London tower block, with flames engulfing flats and thick smoke pouring into the sky.
Seventy-five firefighters were scrambled to tackle the dramatic blaze.
Ten fire engines were sent to the scene on Rochester Row as the London Fire Brigade (LFB) launched a significant emergency response.
The fire broke out in a seven-storey residential block in Westminster, Central London, shortly before 8pm.
Emergency services were alerted after receiving 23 calls about the incident, which has caused major disruption in the area.
The London Fire Brigade confirmed the fire is located on the sixth floor of the building.
Two of the Brigade’s 32-metre ladders and the specialist Drone Team have been deployed to assist with the response.
In a statement, the Brigade said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are responding to a fire on Rochester Row, Westminster.
“The fire involves a sixth floor flat, in a residential block of seven floors.
“Two of the Brigade’s 32m ladders have been deployed to the scene, alongside the Drone Team.
“People are advised to avoid the area as crews respond, with local traffic being heavily impacted.
“The Brigade received the first of 23 calls reporting the fire at 1950, with Control Officers mobilising crews from Lambeth, Soho, Paddington and surrounding fire stations to the scene in response.
“Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 2132.”
Crews from Lambeth, Soho and Paddington were among those quickly dispatched to the scene.
Roads near the site remain closed as emergency services continue their work.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The blaze is believed to have started at Emanuel House, a residential building in Westminster.
Videos shared on social media appear to show flames and smoke coming from the block, which is understood to be owned freehold by Westminster City Council.
Source : https://www.the-sun.com/news/14312826/huge-fire-rips-london-tower-block/
