A huge fire ripped through a residential tower block on Rochester Row, Westminster, tonight. Panic spread as 75 firefighters scrambled to tackle the flames and evacuate terrified residents.
The fire erupted shortly before 8pm on the sixth floor of Emanuel House, a seven-storey building reportedly owned by Westminster City Council. Thick smoke and fierce flames tore through the upper levels, prompting 23 emergency calls to the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
“Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are responding to a fire on Rochester Row,” confirmed an LFB spokesperson. “Two of the Brigade’s 32m ladders and the Drone Team were deployed.” Crews from Lambeth, Soho, Paddington, and nearby stations raced to the scene.
The fierce blaze was finally brought under control at 9.32pm, about 100 minutes after the first call at 7.50pm.
The cause of the fire remains a mystery as emergency services launch an investigation. Shocking social media clips show flames bursting through windows, with thick black smoke billowing into the night sky.
Authorities have urged the public to steer clear of the area while roads stay closed during ongoing inquiries.
Originally published by UKNIP.
