Huge fire breaks out at flats on top of business centre in London’s Tower Hamlets: 100 firefighters race to tackle massive inferno – with column of black smoke visible from M25Flames ripped through the top of Bow House business centre on Fairfield Road By Eirian Jane Prosser Updated: 03:36 EDT, 26 August 2023
A massive fire erupted in the Tower Hamlets area of London this evening, producing thick black smoke that could be seen even from a distance as far as the M25 highway. Videos shared on social media depicted flames engulfing the upper portion of the Bow House business center located on Fairfield Road, Bow, in the eastern part of the city. While some individuals on social media speculated that the fire started in residential flats situated atop the business center, the London Fire Brigade has not yet disclosed the fire’s cause.
Startled commuters traveling on the Elizabeth Line through Stratford captured and posted videos displaying the vast clouds of black smoke that enveloped the city’s skyline. The smoke billowing from the burning structure was visible from multiple miles away, with some individuals posting photographs of the incident from areas as distant as London Bridge.
London Fire Brigade reported that approximately 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were dispatched to the scene. A significant portion of the six-story building’s roof was reported to be ablaze. People were strongly advised to stay away from the vicinity. Footage shared on social media platforms like TikTok depicted a police cordon surrounding the blazing structures, and a number of ambulance vehicles with flashing blue lights were present. Additional videos circulated on various platforms showed crowds gathered in Bow, watching as emergency responders worked to contain the flames amid blaring sirens.
Firefighters were observed employing two cranes to direct water onto the roof. No injuries have been reported thus far. Emergency services rapidly responded after receiving around 120 emergency calls, as the fire was described as being “highly visible” by the fire brigade. Bystanders congregated near the site, witnessing the fire officers’ efforts to extinguish the blaze.
Firefighting crews from stations including Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, and Homerton were dispatched to the scene. Tower Hamlets police urged the public to steer clear of the area and adjust their routes due to the ongoing emergency response. Transport for London (TfL) buses on routes 25, 108, 205, and 425 were rerouted due to the incident, resulting in substantial traffic congestion.
Station Commander Anthony Lewis, present at the Bow location, issued a statement advising motorists to avoid the area due to road closures. An update from the London Fire Brigade indicated that the fire in Bow had been brought under control, although firefighting efforts were continuing to dampen any remaining embers.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade conveyed, “Around half of the roof is alight in the six-floored building… The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.” The Metropolitan Police chose not to provide comments at the present time.
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