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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Jacob Phillips

Catford fire: Investigation launched after 70 firefighters battle blaze at tower block

An investigation has been launched after a blaze ripped through flats in a block in Catford.

Firefighters were scrambled to the fire at the tower block on Rosenthal Road at the junction with Rushey Green at 12.51pm on Wednesday.

Footage of the blaze showed flames bursting through a burned out flat on one of the building’s top floors.

Two flats on the 9th and 10th floors of the building were at the heart of the fire, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.

The blaze was under control at around 2.15pm and there were no reports of any injuries.

A Lewisham resident, who did not wish to be named, described the scene from below during the fire at the tower block.

They told the PA news agency: "Someone was waving from a window on one of the upper floors and we were all shouting 'there's a fire, a fire'.

"It was mad. It was crazy."

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled the blaze.

A fire brigade statement said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire at a block of flats on Rosenthal Road in Catford.

“Two flats were alight. There are currently no reports of any injuries.

“Rushey Green remains closed between Rosenthal Road and Honley Road and people are advised to avoid the area whilst firefighters continue to work at the scene. 

“The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took almost 50 calls to the blaze. 

“The Brigade was called at 1251 and the fire was under control by 1414. Fire crews from Forest Hill, Greenwich, Deptford, Lee Green and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. 

“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

(AFP via Getty Images)

The Brigade's 999 Control Officers have taken almost 50 calls to the blaze, the LFB said.

Fire crews from Forest Hill, Greenwich, Deptford, Lee Green and surrounding fire stations are at the scene and the cause of the fire is not currently known.

The London Fire Brigade said there were no reports of any injuries (LFB)

Lewisham Council said staff are at the scene supporting residents.

It comes on the day of the final report of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry into the 2017 fire which killed 72 people.

The scene following the blaze (AFP via Getty Images)

The near-1,700 page document released at 11am on Wednesday, lays bare the inquiry’s findings around the actions of corporate firms in the construction industry, the local authority, London Fire Brigade and government.

It found that says Grenfell Tower was turned into a death trap by “dishonest” construction firms, architects and negligent politicians who ignored fire safety for decades.

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