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Fire Engulfs Apartment Tower in London Fire Engulfs Apartment Tower in London
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — More than 200 firefighters from all over London were struggling to contain a major fire at a high-rise apartment building in the west of the city early Wednesday, with fears that people are trapped inside the burning building.LONDON — More than 200 firefighters from all over London were struggling to contain a major fire at a high-rise apartment building in the west of the city early Wednesday, with fears that people are trapped inside the burning building.
According to the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police, the fire broke out around 1:16 a.m. and quickly engulfed the building, Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington.According to the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police, the fire broke out around 1:16 a.m. and quickly engulfed the building, Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington.
The London Fire Brigade said the flames had spread from the second floor to the top floor of the 27-story building, which contains some 120 apartments. Ambulances were sent to the scene. The police said that “a number of people being treated for a range of injuries” and that “residents continue to be evacuated.”The London Fire Brigade said the flames had spread from the second floor to the top floor of the 27-story building, which contains some 120 apartments. Ambulances were sent to the scene. The police said that “a number of people being treated for a range of injuries” and that “residents continue to be evacuated.”
The cause of the fire is unknown at this stage, the Fire Brigade said. At dawn, the blaze still burned brightly against the sky, with columns of thick black smoke ascending. Ashes filled with air, and one could hear small explosions as helicopters flew overhead. Firefighters on the ground trained hoses on the building.
A residents’ association, the Grenfell Action Group, has regularly complained in its newsletter of fire hazards in the building and what it called inattention by the landlord. Abdul Kadiri, who stood with his family on a nearby road, said he had heard sirens about 1:45 a.m.
“My friend lives with his family on the 15th floor of the building,” he said. “I called my friend and he had no idea what was going on,” he said. “I told him to grab his family and get out and he hung up.”
When the friend got out safely, Mr. Kadiri said, “he told me there was smoke everywhere and he got out with the help of the firefighters who were on the fourth floor. He was a real mess and didn’t say much, he was just so happy to be out of there. He was crying thinking of all the children that would have been asleep on the higher floors and probably weren’t able to get out.”
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, the Fire Brigade said, adding that more than 20 ambulances had been sent to the scene.
Dan Daly, an assistant fire commissioner, said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire. This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances.”Dan Daly, an assistant fire commissioner, said: “Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are working extremely hard in very difficult conditions to tackle this fire. This is a large and very serious incident and we have deployed numerous resources and specialist appliances.”
Firefighters on the ground trained hoses on the building. Mohammed Bouya, who lives nearby said when he got there at 1:15 a.m., “One side of the building was on fire, there were people at the window calling out for help. You could see people looking out of the window.”
At dawn, the blaze still burned brightly against the sky, with flames especially hot in the middle section. Ashes filled with air, and one could hear small explosions as helicopters flew overhead. “I was told that they were told to stay where they were while they tried to get the fire under control,” Mr. Bouya said. “I could hear people screaming for help,”
Mr. Bouya said he heard a friend talking by telephone to his sister, who lives on the 11th floor.
“He put the police officer on to her on the phone and he told her to put wet towels on her head until they can try to reach her,” he said, adding that later the man was unable to make contact with the sister.
Photos and videos posted on social media earlier showed flames shooting from one side of the building.Photos and videos posted on social media earlier showed flames shooting from one side of the building.
At least 40 fire engines were at the scene.At least 40 fire engines were at the scene.
Witnesses said they could see lights — thought to be flashlights — blinking at the top of the block of apartments.Witnesses said they could see lights — thought to be flashlights — blinking at the top of the block of apartments.
George Clarke, an architect and television personality, who said he was 100 yards away, told the BBC: “I’m getting covered in ash. That’s how bad it is.”George Clarke, an architect and television personality, who said he was 100 yards away, told the BBC: “I’m getting covered in ash. That’s how bad it is.”
He continued: “It’s so heartbreaking. I’ve seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can’t get out.”He continued: “It’s so heartbreaking. I’ve seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can’t get out.”
Tim Downey, another witness, told the BBC that part of the building was “completely burned away.” Tim Downie, another witness, told the BBC that part of the building was “completely burned away.”
He said: “It looks very bad, very very bad. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s just such a big fire. The whole building is just crumbling. It’s just billowing black smoke.”He said: “It looks very bad, very very bad. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s just such a big fire. The whole building is just crumbling. It’s just billowing black smoke.”
A residents’ association, the Grenfell Action Group, has regularly complained in its newsletter of fire hazards in the building and what it called inattention by the landlord.
According to the Get West London website, the Grenfell Tower block had a £10 million renovation, completed in May 2016. The upgrade – which included the installation of insulated exterior cladding, double-glazed windows, and a new communal heating system – was financed by the local council as part of a multi-million-dollar improvement project in the area.
According to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s website, the tower block was built in 1974 and contained 120 homes, managed by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization on behalf of the council.