Residents angry after fire at east London high-rise with Grenfell-style panels Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent
Blaze engulfs several floors of tower block near Canary Wharf
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(Video by Press Association)
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Residents of a high-rise block with Grenfell-style cladding in east London that caught fire causing multiple injuries have voiced anger at the government and the building’s developer that nothing was done to repair it sooner.
Firefighter tackle tower block blaze thought to have Grenfell-style cladding. (PA) More than 100 firefighters were called to tackle a blaze in a block of flats in London thought to be finished with similar cladding to that used on Grenfell Tower. Videos and pictures shared on social media show smoke bellowing from New Providence Wharf on Friday morning as fire crews rushed to the scene. Videos also showed firefighters mounted on ladders as they tackled the blaze. According to reports, 20 fire engines were called to the fire in East London. Three floors of the 19-storey tower were affected as Andrew Wood, councillor for Canary Wharf ward in Tower Hamlets, tweeted about the incident.
- Ripped through parts of of 8th, 9th and 10th floor
- Work to remove cladding was due to start in Aprilhttps://t.co/6gIS5inJwF
Andrew, a 47-year old resident in the adjoining block, said he was alerted to the blaze by neighbours sounding the alarm from their balconies.
âThere was no functioning sprinkler system or fire alarm, it was neighbours and the resident Whatsapp group which got people out.
âMy understanding is there were one or two members of the waking watch knocking on doors, but this isnât the solution to alerting a huge number of people to evacuate a building.
The Metro reports that fire crews were rushed to New Providence Wharf, near Canary Wharf, on Friday morning. 20 fire engines are reportedly at the scene.
The building is thought to be covered in the same type of cladding that was used on Grenfell Tower, 20 fire engines on the scene of a fire at New Providence Wharf in East London this morning.
The building’s still covered in ACM cladding - the same type as was on Grenfell. Awaiting updates. @LBCpic.twitter.com/vvKaNzxTUW
The London Fire Brigade said: Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters have been called to a fire at a block of flats on Fairmont Avenue in Poplar.
ACM cladding accounted for 22% of the block’s façade
Housebuilding shares dipped after a fire at a tower block in the east of London involving the same cladding material that caused the Grenfell Tower disaster.
Reports said that fire at New Providence Wharf had left people injured and affected the 8th, 9th and tenth floors of the 19-story before being put out.
Developer Ballymore had been under pressure from residents to remove the ACM cladding since the Grenfell disaster four years ago and work was due to begin in April, it told the East London Advertiser.
In a statement issued today, Ballymore said: “Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this morning’s fire at New Providence Wharf. The safety of our residents is paramount and we are working closely with the London Fire Brigade.