This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-49725761
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Clapton flats fire: Woman rescued during 'suspicious' blaze | Clapton flats fire: Woman rescued during 'suspicious' blaze |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A fire that ripped through flats where a woman had to be rescued is being treated as suspicious, police say. | A fire that ripped through flats where a woman had to be rescued is being treated as suspicious, police say. |
Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze at Harry Zeital Way in Clapton, east London, at 22:40 BST on Monday. | Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze at Harry Zeital Way in Clapton, east London, at 22:40 BST on Monday. |
It started on a downstairs balcony but spread to the upper floors "within two minutes", resident Soyeb Isralia said. | It started on a downstairs balcony but spread to the upper floors "within two minutes", resident Soyeb Isralia said. |
Balconies from the ground to the fifth floor were destroyed, along with part of a flat on the fifth floor and a section of the roof. | Balconies from the ground to the fifth floor were destroyed, along with part of a flat on the fifth floor and a section of the roof. |
The cladding on the building was passed as safe in an inspection, according to documents seen by the BBC. | The cladding on the building was passed as safe in an inspection, according to documents seen by the BBC. |
A risk review carried out for the developers Taylor Wimpey in June concluded the walls of the building "do not pose an unacceptable risk of uncontrolled fire spread". | A risk review carried out for the developers Taylor Wimpey in June concluded the walls of the building "do not pose an unacceptable risk of uncontrolled fire spread". |
BBC journalist Georgina Rannard, who lives in the area, described seeing a large window on the top floor "explode" sending debris to the ground. | BBC journalist Georgina Rannard, who lives in the area, described seeing a large window on the top floor "explode" sending debris to the ground. |
Mr Isralia added: "We saw the downstairs balcony on fire and within two minutes the flames went all the way up to the fourth floor," he said. | Mr Isralia added: "We saw the downstairs balcony on fire and within two minutes the flames went all the way up to the fourth floor," he said. |
"Everything just exploded after that." | "Everything just exploded after that." |
Met Police officers were called to the scene along with ambulance and fire crews, although there were no reported injuries. | Met Police officers were called to the scene along with ambulance and fire crews, although there were no reported injuries. |
The blaze took firefighters, who remain at the scene, three hours to bring under control. | The blaze took firefighters, who remain at the scene, three hours to bring under control. |
A letter seen by the BBC said a "Management Risk Review" was carried out by London Fire Consultants and Design Associates Ltd for Taylor Wimpey. | A letter seen by the BBC said a "Management Risk Review" was carried out by London Fire Consultants and Design Associates Ltd for Taylor Wimpey. |
The consultants found the cladding on the building was combustible, being rated class B in a standard European test. | The consultants found the cladding on the building was combustible, being rated class B in a standard European test. |
Class A2 is regarded as of "limited combustibility" and class A1 as "non-combustible". | Class A2 is regarded as of "limited combustibility" and class A1 as "non-combustible". |
Since the Grenfell Tower fire, the government has banned combustible cladding on new buildings, but the change does not apply to existing buildings. | Since the Grenfell Tower fire, the government has banned combustible cladding on new buildings, but the change does not apply to existing buildings. |
The Clapton building was constructed before the ban. | The Clapton building was constructed before the ban. |
Taylor Wimpey has refused to release a full copy of the risk review, though residents said they had asked for it. | Taylor Wimpey has refused to release a full copy of the risk review, though residents said they had asked for it. |
The company's spokesman said the document was "highly confidential", and in general technical assessments were not passed in full to residents because they were technical and might be "misinterpreted". | The company's spokesman said the document was "highly confidential", and in general technical assessments were not passed in full to residents because they were technical and might be "misinterpreted". |
In a statement, Taylor Wimpey said: "The safety of residents is our number one priority and we will support them while investigations are under way." |