Major incident declared after huge fire tears through tower block in east London

Everyone has been accounted for following a fire at a block of flats in Dagenham, London Fire Brigade said.

In a statement, London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: ‘I am pleased to confirm that everyone has been accounted for.

‘More than 80 people were evacuated with firefighters leading residents out to safety and carrying out 10 rescues including using fire escape hoods, which can provide 15 minutes of clean, filtered air in smoke-filled environments, helping individuals stay safe until they can be rescued or reach safety.

‘Four people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews, with two taken to hospital.’

A resident of the building described the incident as ‘very terrible’ and said he was coughing up ‘black’ from the smoke.

Sam Ogbeide, who lives on the fourth floor, told reporters: ‘I opened my main door, smoke was coming in from the window – I live at the back. I saw it (the fire). Very terrible, very terrible.’

Mr Ogbeide said it was very busy in the building’s stairwell with fellow residents who ‘didn’t bring anything’ when evacuating, with some still ‘naked’.

He said: ‘I’ve never experienced something like this in my life. Everything is gone. I don’t know what to do.’

Asked if he felt OK, the resident added: ‘I’m not feeling OK. All my mouth is bitter because I feel the smoke in me.

‘When I cough, you see the black.’

Questions around the role of cladding in the fire will ‘form part’ of the investigation into the incident, a spokesman for London Fire Brigade has said.

When asked by reporters at the scene ]’how big a part did cladding play’ in the fire, and how close the incident was to a ‘bigger disaster’, Assistant Commissioner Patrick Goulbourne said: ‘What I wouldn’t want to do is pre-empt an investigation.

‘This was a very, very dynamic incident, and clearly it’s going to require a very complex investigation, not only to get to its cause, but to get to an understanding of the fire spread – so it’s it’s too early at this time to be able to give any detail on that, but that will form part of our investigation in the coming days.’

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has said the major incident has been stood down following a fire at a tower block in Dagenham.

In a post on X, Mr Khan wrote: ‘My thoughts are with all those affected by the fire in Dagenham overnight, and I remain in close contact with the @LondonFire Commissioner and emergency services who worked tirelessly through the night to gain control of the fire.

‘A major incident was declared which has now been stood down.

‘A rest centre has been set up in the area to support residents, and I urge people in the area to follow LFB’s advice to keep windows and doors closed, and for people to avoid the area where possible.’

The cause of the fire is not yet known, but the building’s ‘non-compliant’ cladding was in the process of being removed, BBC news reports.

The building was known to have a number of safety issues, the LFB confirmed.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: ‘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 under way.’

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked firefighters and other emergency workers for their ‘bravery and swift response’ to the Dagenham fire.

She said: ‘My thoughts are with all those affected by the major fire incident in Dagenham.

‘I thank London Fire Brigade & all emergency services on the ground for their bravery and swift response.’

She said ministers were being kept updated on the incident.

A man whose daughter was having a sleepover with friends in the building said the children were ‘terrified’ when the fire broke out.

Resident Dinesh Raj told the BBC he got a call the building was on fire at 3am and the family left the building as soon as they smelt smoke.

He said by the time they were out of the building the fire had spread to the top floor.

More than 100 people have been evacuated, with four treated by the London Ambulance Service (LAS) at the scene, with two taken to hospital.

Pictures show barefoot residents being led away from the building wrapped in white sheets.

A significant search and rescue operation is underway, the LFB said, and all parts of the building including a nursey on the ground floor is said to be affected.

Those who fled in the early hours have told of their dramatic escape.

Martin Perry-Taylor, 44, described smoke engulfing the building with ‘piercing screams’ waking him up.

He said: ‘It was madness. I woke to all this screaming and alarms and just chaos.

‘It was dreadful. There were piercing screams. Smoke was everywhere.

‘It was unreal. I got out straight away and there was just mayhem with people fleeing and getting out.

‘It was my worst nightmare.’

A significant search and rescue operation is underway, the LFB said.

All parts of the building including a nursery on the ground floor is said to be affected.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said the LFB had declared a major incident to allow the service to focus its resources on the fire.

He continued: ‘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 under way.’