LONDON — A fire engulfed an apartment building in east London early Monday, sending thick black smoke into the air and sending two people to the hospital for medical treatment.
The London Fire Brigade said the fire was reported at 2:44 a.m. and the entire building was affected, including scaffolding surrounding the property and the roof.
The building has been evacuated and a significant search and rescue operation is underway. The London Ambulance Service said four people were treated at the scene and two were take to the hospital.
As many as 40 fire engines and about 225 firefighters responded to the fire at the building, which has both residential and commercial units. The cause of the blaze isn’t yet known.
Two individuals were hospitalized after a fire broke out in an apartment building in east London on Tuesday evening. The blaze, which started on the fourth floor of the building, quickly spread to other units, causing panic among residents.
Firefighters were called to the scene and were able to extinguish the flames after several hours of battling the fire. Two individuals were rescued from the building and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation and minor burns. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but initial reports suggest that it may have been started by a faulty electrical appliance in one of the units. The building did not have a sprinkler system, which may have contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Residents of the building were evacuated and are currently being housed in temporary accommodation while authorities assess the damage and determine when it will be safe for them to return to their homes. The Red Cross and local charities are providing support to those affected by the fire.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of fire safety measures in residential buildings. It is crucial for all buildings to have working smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and evacuation plans in place to ensure the safety of residents in the event of a fire.
Authorities are urging residents to be vigilant and to report any potential fire hazards in their buildings to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Fire safety should always be a top priority to protect lives and property.
