A fire broke out at a block of residential flats in south London, as 60 firefighters tackled the blaze.
Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters attended the scene on Whitehorse Road in Croydon at around 5pm on Wednesday afternoon, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said, after receiving over 30 calls about the fire.
A man and a woman were treated at the scene, the London Ambulance Service said, after the LFB confirmed part of the first, second, third and fourth floors of the five-storey block of flats were alight.
No one was taken to hospital and there were no reports of any injuries.
Two flats and two balconies on the first and second floors of the building were destroyed by fire, while most of a third-floor flat and balcony were also damaged by the blaze.
A 32-metre turntable ladder was used as a water tower to extinguish the flames, the LFB said.
The fire brigade said around 80 people left the building and has advised people to avoid the area. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
One eyewitness wrote on Twitter: “Avoid White Horse road in Croydon, at the West Croydon end, as there is a massive fire.”
Allan Brown, 44, who lives and works in Croydon and witnessed the fire, said: “From where I was standing, which was quite close at one point, many residents, including children, could be seen running from the building’s lower floor, with some residents trying to get back into the building.
“This was before the fire department arrived with the first two engines.
“There were residents leaving the building and trying to get back into it, but the blaze was very high.
“We had to clear the area due (to) the smoke that filled the area.
“In total there was six fire engines and various amounts of police and ambulance in the scene within five minutes.”
Another eye-witness told The Independent she saw what she said looked like three flats “completely burnt out”.
“I saw some firefighters inside the buildings too,” said Irene Danso. “I hope the people are okay,” she said in a video posted to Twitter.
A video posted on Twitter appeared to show long queues of traffic backed up along the road in west Croydon, as the London Fire Brigade warned road closures are expected to be in place for a number of hours this evening while firefighters tackle the blaze.
Shortly after emergency services arrived at the scene, the London Fire Brigade said: “Eight fire engines and around 40 firefighters are responding to a flat fire on Whitehorse Road in Croydon.
“Our Control Officers have taken over 30 calls about the fire. People are advised to avoid the area. Crews from Croydon, Woodside, Wallington and surrounding stations are in attendance. The cause of the fire is not yet known.”
Station Commander Chris Young, who attended the scene, said: “Around 80 people left the building.
“Road closures are expected to be in place for a number of hours this evening and we’re urging people to avoid the local area.”
A London Ambulance Service spokesman, who said an ambulance crew, an incident response officer and members of a hazardous area response team were sent to the incident, added: “We treated a man and a woman at the scene but did not take anyone to hospital.”
