Around 50 residents are unable to return to their homes after huge flames tore through the roof of a block of flats in Hackney.
Terrified residents scrambled to warn their neighbours as the fire quickly destroyed the roof of the Pembury Estate on Dalston Lane on Wednesday afternoon.
Images of the fire's aftermath revealed the charred remains at the Peabody-managed estate after it had been brought under control by the London Fire Brigade.
Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines were at the scene within four minutes, and the London Ambulance Service treated one woman for smoke inhalation at the scene.
Firefighters remained on Dalston Lane on Thursday morning monitoring hotspots and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Some 50 residents were moved to St John’s Church following the blaze. Around half the group spent the night with friends and family, while the rest went to an emergency hotel.
Authorities are assessing the scale of the damage to see when they could return home.
Assistant Commissioner Keeley Foster described how the fire had been an “extremely busy and challenging scene.”
She added: “Although significant damage has been sustained to the building’s roof, firefighters’ hard and professional work has helped restrict the amount of damage caused to flats within the block, though some properties have sustained some fire and smoke damage.
“Most importantly, no one was seriously hurt with one woman treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service for minor smoke inhalation.”
Large crowds watched as firefighters used two 32-metre ladders to spray parts of the roof as the fire calmed down.
The fire produced significant amounts of smoke and people in the area were advised by the London Fire Brigade to keep windows and doors closed.
An eyewitness told how she was sitting with a friend nearby when she saw flames several metres high burst out of a fourth-floor flat.
The 39-year-old, Nicola, who quickly alerted the fire brigade, told the Standard: “All of the roof was on fire. It spread along the roof.
“Residents were banging to get their neighbours out. Loads of people were running out and shouting. I saw at least 20 people come out and go back in.
“I don’t think the people inside realised how high the flames were.”
Tracy Packer, Peabody’s managing director for north-east London, added: “My local colleagues were on the estate until the early hours of the morning supporting residents and the emergency services.
She continued: “The local team is still supporting residents today and we’ll stay in touch with everyone who lives in the block as well as close neighbours and offer support for as long as we’re needed.
“We’re working with the relevant agencies to assess the damage to the building and look at when people might be able to safely return. While it’s too early to determine the cause of the fire, we will support the emergency services with their enquiries.”
Crews from Homerton, Stoke Newington, Bethnal Green, Walthamstow and surrounding fire stations were sent to the scene.
