Two in hospital as London building blaze rages

Firefighters tackle a fire on a tower block from a crane in Dagenham. Photo / Getty Images

Two people have been taken to hospital and more than 100 residents evacuated after a fire engulfed a building in east London.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was carrying out a “significant search and rescue operation” after being called to the blaze on Freshwater Rd, Dagenham on Monday.

Commissioner Andy Roe has provided an update on the fire in #Dagenham.

He said: "To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we have declared a major incident.

"A significant search and rescue operation is underway"

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 26, 2024

Forty-five engines and about 225 firefighters are responding to the fire that has engulfed the mixed-use commercial and residential building, including scaffolding surrounding the property and the roof, the LFB said.

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

“The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade,” he said.

“A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is under way.”

He added LFB officers were stationed at a rest centre to support residents.

Drones have been being deployed to tackle the blaze along with turntable ladders that were being used as vantage points to assess the scene and to douse the flames with water from above, Roe said.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.