London building with ‘non-compliant’ cladding ERUPTS in flames as 20 residents rescued and 80 others evacuated
London Fire Brigade
Two people have been taken to hospital after a huge fire broke out in an East London building - forcing more than 100 people to flee their homes.
Forty fire engines and 225 firefighters attended the scene on Freshwater Road, Dagenham at 2.44am on Monday.
In the latest update, assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said "everyone has been accounted for".
London Fire Brigade said the mixed-use residential and commercial building was known to have "a number of fire safety issues" and was covered in "non-compliant" cladding.
Goulbourne added that more than 80 people were evacuated from the building and 20 people were rescued with some given fire escape hoods.
Four patients were treated at the scene with two being taken to hospital.
Thick black smoke was seen pouring from the building this morning.
London fire brigade said scaffolding surrounding the building, ground floor and the roof were set alight.
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The cause of the fire is not yet known.
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: "We were called to the incident at 02.44 this morning.
"The first crew arrived within five minutes and the second crew arrived within six minutes.
"An aerial appliance also arrived in under six minutes.
Forty fire engines and 225 firefighters attended the scene on Freshwater Road, Dagenham at 2.44am on Monday
London Fire Brigade
"The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade.
"A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is underway.
"The Brigade’s Control Officers have taken 16 calls to the fire, including successfully giving vital fire survival guidance to a number of people using our Fire Survival Guidance App, which allows information to be exchanged between Control and the incident ground in a timely, accurate and consistent manner."