Huge fire rips through tenth floor flat of east London tower block

A tenth-floor flat caught fire in London yesterday evening with the plume of smoke visible for miles around.

London Fire Brigade were called to the building on Rymill Street in North Woolwich, east London, at around 10.30pm on Thursday night.

A huge plume of smoke poured out of the building, visible from a significant distance as the later sunset meant the sky was still fairly light.

Footage shows bright orange flames spewing out of the flat, which is about halfway up the tower block.

Three people had escaped the block of flats before the brigade arrived, and they received treatment from London Ambulance Service.

Other residents of the building were able to stay inside their unaffected flats.

The brigade received around 30 calls alerting them to the fire, which 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters managed to get under control by 11.50pm.

Crews from Plaistow, Barking, East Ham and Poplar as well as surrounding stations attended the scene.

London Fire Brigade says the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The full statement from the brigade says: ‘Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a flat fire on Rymill Street in North Woolwich. 

‘Part of a five-roomed flat on the 10th floor was alight.

‘Three people left the building before the Brigade arrived, whilst others remained in their unaffected flats. They are being treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took almost 30 calls to the blaze.

‘The Brigade was called at 2232 and the fire was under control by 2350. Fire crews from Plaistow, Barking, East Ham, Poplar and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. 

‘The cause of the fire is under investigation.’

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