A fire broke out at a shop with flats above it in east London, between Shoreditch High Street and Columbia Road, on Monday morning.
The London Fire Brigade dispatched 40 firefighters and six engines to the property on Hackney Road, after receiving more than 40 reports of the fire just before 8am.
Footage on social media showed thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as the roof of the building could be seen ablaze.
Smoke rising from behind the Royal London hospital @LondonFire pic.twitter.com/s5c0g0y7gO
— Michelle Buchan (@M_Buchan) August 3, 2026
Residents from the building were evacuated from their apartments shortly after the fire first broke out.
The resident of the affected flat told The Standard that the roof, which was made of thick wood, set alight this morning.
They said they only realised it was ablaze when their doorbell was rung by a local shopkeeper and after a passerby alerted the police.
They added they often sleep on the roof during the hot weather, but was inside at the time of the fire.
It is understood that there were no injuries from the fire, according to the resident.
A 32-metre turntable ladder was used at the scene as a water tower as crews from Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Soho, Dowgate and surrounding fire stations worked to bring the fire under control.
The fire was brought under control by 8:47am though a cordon still remains in place.
The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation.
The road remains closed between the junction of Shoreditch High Street and Cremer Street, with the London Fire Brigade urging people to avoid the area this morning.
In a statement, London Fire Brigade said: “Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a fire at a shop with flats above on Hackney Road in Hackney.
“Part of the roof of the building was alight. One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as a water tower to tackle flames from height.
“Road closures remain in place on Hackney Road in both directions between the junction of Shoreditch High Street and Cremer Street. People are encouraged to continue to avoid the area where possible this morning.
“The Brigade's Control Officers took the first of 40 calls to the fire at 7:53am and sent crews from Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Soho, Dowgate and surrounding fire stations to the scene. The fire was under control by 8:47am.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
