More than 100 people have been evacuated and two taken to hospital as a fire engulfed a building in Dagenham, east London, with “known” safety issues.
The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was carrying out a “significant search and rescue operation” after being called to the blaze on Freshwater Road at 2.44am on Monday.
Forty-five engines and about 225 firefighters were responding to the fire that engulfed the whole mixed-use commercial and residential building, including scaffolding surrounding the property and the roof, the LFB added.
At about 7.30am, the fire service said the blaze was producing heavy smoke and advised local residents to keep windows and doors closed.
The “terrible scenes” resulted in “minimal” injuries due to the swift response of the emergency services, according to the local MP.
The London Fire Brigade commissioner, Andy Roe, said the LFB had declared a major incident to allow the service to focus its resources on the fire.
He added: “The building has a number of fire safety issues known to London Fire Brigade. A full simultaneous evacuation of the building was immediately carried out and a significant search and rescue operation is under way.”
“The brigade has stood up full strategic arrangements to deal with the incident and a rest centre has been set up at Beacontree Health and Leisure Centre.
“LFB officers are stationed at the rest centre to support residents.”
Drones were deployed to tackle the blaze, along with 64-metre and 32-metre turntable ladders used as vantage points to assess the scene and douse the flames with water from above, Roe said.
Crews from Dagenham, Ilford, Romford, Barking and surrounding fire stations attended the scene while Freshwater Road remained closed to traffic. The LFB urged people to avoid the area where possible.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
Dagenham and Rainham’s Labour MP, Margaret Mullane, said on X: “Terrible scenes in Dagenham this morning as @LondonFire tackle the blaze at Freshwater Rd.
“Thanks to their rapid response injury was minimal. I will be visiting the rescue centre today to see what help and support I can offer the residents and businesses who have lost everything.”