The Fellows Court fire in Hackney occurred on 27 February 2026 when an explosion engulfed a split-level maisonette on the 11th and 12th floors, triggering a major emergency response that evacuated all residents and left one girl with minor burns.news.
- What Happened During the Fellows Court Fire?
- Who Was Affected by the Fellows Court Fire?
- Where Is Fellows Court Located?
- What Caused the Fellows Court Fire?
- Were There Fire Safety Issues Before the Fellows Court Fire?
- What Were the Broader Safety Concerns at Fellows Court?
- What Other Emergencies Occurred at Fellows Court After the Fire?
- How Did Hackney Council Respond to the Fellows Court Fire?
- What Long-Term Living Conditions Exist at Fellows Court?
- Who Represents Fellows Court Residents?
- What Were the Psychological Impacts on Fellows Court Residents?
- What Is the Current Fire Safety Status at Fellows Court?
- What Are the Broader Implications for East London Social Housing?
- How Can Fellows Court Residents Access Support?
What Happened During the Fellows Court Fire?
On Friday 27 February 2026 at 7:20pm, an explosion consumed a split-level maisonette on floors 11 and 12 of Fellows Court in Hackney, requiring ten fire engines and 70 firefighters to suppress the blaze within one hour.
The fire broke out in a council-run tower block located on Dunloe Street in South Hackney. London Fire Brigade (LFB) received the emergency call at 7:20pm on Friday evening. Ten fire engines with 70 firefighters attended the scene to tackle the blaze. Firefighters took approximately one hour to bring the fire under control and suppress the flames. The explosion incinerated much of the property and blackened the concrete walls of the affected maisonette. All residents of Fellows Court were swiftly evacuated as firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. The majority of evacuees were able to return to their homes on Friday night following the incident. The family living in the scorched flat, who wished to remain anonymous, were placed in hotel accommodation while the council arranged temporary rehousing.
Who Was Affected by the Fellows Court Fire?
One girl sustained minor burns to her face and hair during the fire, while all Fellows Court residents faced evacuation, with the affected family requiring emergency hotel placement and temporary rehousing support from Hackney Council.
There were no fatalities recorded from the incident. One girl received minor burns on her face and hair during the explosion and fire. All residents of the tower block were evacuated during the emergency response. Residents waited in the community centre next door for several hours before they could return to their flats. The family living in the destroyed flat required emergency hotel accommodation arranged by Hackney Council. The council committed to rehousing the family in temporary accommodation. Other residents who could not immediately return received emergency hotel support where required. The incident caused significant worry and distress across the Fellows Court community.
Where Is Fellows Court Located?
Fellows Court is a council-owned tower block situated on Dunloe Street in South Hackney, East London, within the Hoxton area and managed by Hackney Council as social housing.
Fellows Court stands on Dunloe Street in Hackney. The tower block is located in South Hackney, East London. The building falls within the Hoxton area of the borough. Hackney Council owns and manages the property as part of its social housing stock. The tower block comprises multiple residential floors with split-level maisonettes. The affected fire occurred on the 11th and 12th floors of the north tower. A community centre operates next door to the residential block.
What Caused the Fellows Court Fire?
London Fire Brigade has not yet confirmed the specific cause of the fire, but investigators currently believe the blaze was triggered by an electrical incident within the affected maisonette.
The London Fire Brigade opened an investigation into the cause of the fire immediately following the incident. LFB has not yet established the specific cause of the inferno as of early March 2026. At present, investigators believe the fire was triggered by an electrical incident. Hackney Council stated it is supporting the London Fire Brigade with its investigation as required. The council urged residents to avoid sharing unconfirmed reports from social media while the investigation continues. Official updates about the incident are available through the London Fire Brigade website.
Were There Fire Safety Issues Before the Fellows Court Fire?
Multiple fire alarm system faults were reported at Fellows Court in the days leading up to the 27 February fire, with residents flagging malfunctioning alarms and the monitor going blank on Thursday 26 February 2026.
Residents reported multiple faults on the fire alarm system from Wednesday 25 February 2026. The fire alarm monitor went blank on Thursday 26 February, one day before the fire. Hackney Council staff visited Fellows Court that week to address the reported faults. Repair teams came to fix the problem before the fire occurred. A council spokesperson stated the issues with the fire alarm were not system-wide and would not have stopped the fire alarm sounding when the explosion happened. When the Local Democracy Reporting Service visited on Monday 2 March, the alarm systems at both Fellows Court and the community centre were signalling faults once again. The Fellow Residents Action Group (FRAG) used their X account to flag problems with the fire alarm system in the days leading up to the fire.
What Were the Broader Safety Concerns at Fellows Court?
Fellows Court residents raised longstanding concerns about disrepair, fire safety gaps exceeding 4mm around fire doors, cladding removal remnants, exposed pipes, corroded plumbing, and holes in ductwork that could allow fire to spread.
Concerns around fire risk extended beyond the alert systems at Fellows Court. Behind wall panels in the corridors, where cladding was removed in 2019, several pipes sit alongside rubbish and corroded plumbing left after replacement works. Around the bases of the ducts are several holes exposing the hallway corridor below. After the Grenfell Tower fire, safety regulations mandated that high-rises should not have critical gaps bigger than 4mm around fire doors or inside external wall construction to prevent fire from spreading. Resident David Coleman warned the Town Hall about these gaps since 2024. The Local Democracy Reporting Service raised this issue with Hackney Council but received no response. The last comprehensive fire safety inspections at Fellows Court’s north tower were carried out in November 2024.
What Other Emergencies Occurred at Fellows Court After the Fire?
On Sunday 8 March 2026, just eleven days after the fire, a burst mains pipe flooded Fellows Court, leaving four properties drenched and uninhabitable and cutting central heating to many flats.
London Fire Brigade rushed to Fellows Court on Sunday 8 March 2026 after a torrent of water gushed from a burst mains pipe through several floors of the building. The flooding left four properties drenched and uninhabitable. Hackney Council moved the occupants of the swamped households into temporary accommodation. Many residents were left without central heating as a result of the flooding incident. The emergency marked the second time firefighters had been called to the estate block in ten days. Fellows Court has received extensive coverage over repairs and maintenance problems ranging from leaks and flooding to mould and faulty boilers. In July 2025, renters union ACORN described the building’s conditions as inhumane during a march on the Town Hall after an entire block lost hot water.
How Did Hackney Council Respond to the Fellows Court Fire?
Hackney Council arranged emergency hotel accommodation for affected residents, initiated a fire risk assessment review of the block, and committed to implementing further protective measures following the 27 February fire.
Hackney Council stated it takes the safety of everyone living in its homes extremely seriously. The council responded to fire alarm issues as a matter of urgency and sought to resolve problems on the same day. Following the fire, the council arranged emergency hotel accommodation where required. The family in the destroyed flat were placed in a hotel as the council worked to rehouse them in temporary accommodation. The council carried out a fire risk assessment review of the block to identify further steps needed to protect residents. Any identified measures would be implemented as quickly as possible. The council supported the London Fire Brigade investigation as required. Regarding the March flooding, the council repaired the cause of the leaks and kept staff on-site to dry out affected flats, reinstate electrics, and handle necessary repairs. A heating contractor attended the block on Tuesday 10 March to carry out works before reinstating central heating.
What Long-Term Living Conditions Exist at Fellows Court?
Fellows Court residents report persistent issues including paint flaking off ceilings, water-damaged walls, exposed cables, loose fire sensors, damaged CCTV systems, overflowing rubbish bins, lift failures, and anti-social behaviour throughout the block.
Behind the wall panels in the corridors, where cladding was removed in 2019, sit several pipes along with rubbish and corroded plumbing. Around the block, paint is flaking off ceilings and walls already stained by water damage from leaks. Exposed cables run across the corridor. Some fire sensors hang loose. Residents highlighted damage to CCTV systems, overflowing rubbish bins and anti-social behaviour. An 81-year-old woman reported being forced to regularly climb stairs to her 13th floor flat due to persistent lift failures. Residents described repeated flooding, faulty alarms and ongoing repair problems. Single mother Sude said she feared for her life during the fire two weeks prior to the March flooding coverage. Others said constant leaks forced them to move rooms or temporarily leave their homes.
Who Represents Fellows Court Residents?
The Fellow Residents Action Group (FRAG) operates as an alternative to the official Tenants and Residents Association, running an X account to flag building problems and advocate for full evacuation following the fire and flooding incidents.
Occupants living at the block formed the Fellow Residents Action Group, or FRAG, as an alternative to the official Tenants and Residents Association. The group runs an X account which was used to flag problems with the fire alarm system in the days leading up to the fire. FRAG repeatedly put pressure on the council over the block’s conditions. Following the March flooding, FRAG called for the entire council block to be evacuated. A FRAG spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that with no heating, some flats would not dry out and would induce mould and dampness again. The group stated this was now a serious incident and expressed concern about the safety of residents of all ages and disabilities.
What Were the Psychological Impacts on Fellows Court Residents?
Residents reported significant psychological distress following the fire, including one teenage boy with special needs who struggled to sleep and refused to live at Fellows Court anymore, while others expressed fear about leaks, security, and future fire risks.
Rahel Yerga, who has lived on the first floor for several years, reported her teenage son with special needs was struggling to sleep after the fire. The boy said he did not want to live at Fellows Court anymore and described the situation as a nightmare. Resident Aye Tebe said she felt lucky the blast occurred when it did, questioning what would have happened if it had been at 4am when everyone was asleep. Residents expressed fear about leaks, security and fire following the incidents. A group representing tenants and residents said they were living in fear after multiple failures. The incident caused worry in the community according to Hackney Council’s statement.
What Is the Current Fire Safety Status at Fellows Court?
Hackney Council committed to finding a long-term solution to resolve central heating issues and remains on-site carrying out repairs, while the London Fire Brigade continues its investigation into the 27 February fire cause.
Hackney Council stated it is committed to finding a long-term solution to resolve the issues with the central heating system. The council remains on site carrying out repairs following the March flooding. The London Fire Brigade is yet to establish the specific cause of the 27 February inferno as of early March 2026. The council is supporting the London Fire Brigade with its investigation as required. The council carried out a fire risk assessment review of the block to identify any further steps needed to help further protect residents. Any identified protective measures will be implemented as quickly as possible.
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What Are the Broader Implications for East London Social Housing?
The Fellows Court fire and subsequent flooding highlight systemic maintenance failures in East London council housing, with residents facing compounded risks from faulty alarms, structural gaps, heating failures, and delayed repairs across multiple Hackney tower blocks.
Fellows Court has received extensive coverage over repairs and maintenance problems which range from leaks and flooding to mould and faulty boilers. In July 2025, renters union ACORN slammed the building’s inhumane conditions during a march on the Town Hall. The emergency response to both the fire and flooding within a fortnight demonstrated the vulnerability of residents in ageing council stock. Concerns around fire safety regulations post-Grenfell remain unaddressed at some properties, with gaps exceeding 4mm around fire doors and within external wall construction. Residents formed action groups to hold their landlord accountable where official channels failed to address longstanding issues. The psychological impact on vulnerable residents, including children with special needs and elderly residents, underscores the human cost of deferred maintenance in social housing.
How Can Fellows Court Residents Access Support?
Affected residents can access emergency hotel accommodation through Hackney Council, receive temporary rehousing support, and follow official London Fire Brigade updates for investigation results regarding the fire cause and safety measures.
Hackney Council arranged emergency hotel accommodation where required following the fire. The family in the destroyed flat were placed in a hotel while the council looks to rehouse them in temporary accommodation. The council moved occupants of flood-damaged households into temporary accommodation following the March 8 incident. Residents can follow the London Fire Brigade website for official updates about the fire investigation. The council urges residents to avoid sharing unconfirmed reports from social media while the investigation continues. The Fellow Residents Action Group operates an X account to coordinate resident advocacy and flag building problems.
What happened during the Fellows Court fire?
On 27 February 2026, an explosion and fire destroyed a split-level maisonette on the 11th and 12th floors of Fellows Court on Dunloe Street in South Hackney. The incident began at about 7:20pm, prompting a major response from the London Fire Brigade. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters attended, bringing the blaze under control within about an hour. Residents throughout the tower block were evacuated while crews tackled the fire.
