Key Points:
- Around 100 firefighters and 15 fire engines battled a major blaze in Aldgate, east London.
- Fire broke out at a block of flats on Leman Street, affecting the sixth and seventh floors.
- Eleven people were led to safety by crews.
- No injuries have been reported at this stage.
- London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called at 5.43pm.
- Crews from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Shoreditch, Dowgate, Bethnal Green and surrounding areas responded.
- Borough Commander Lucy Macleod praised swift action and warned of road closures and heavy congestion.
- Firefighters used a 64-metre turntable ladder for observation.
- The fire’s cause is under investigation.
Around 100 firefighters battled a blaze in Aldgate, Tower Hamlets, rescuing 11 as flames engulfed two floors of a Leman Street residential block. The fire, which broke out at a property on Leman Street close to London Liverpool Street station and Shoreditch, prompted a major response from London Fire Brigade after an emergency call at 5.43pm. Footage from the scene showed thick smoke and visible flames pouring from the sixth and seventh floors of the residential block.
How did firefighters respond to the Aldgate flats fire?
London Fire Brigade said 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled the fire. Crews from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Shoreditch, Dowgate, Bethnal Green and nearby stations rushed to the scene.
A 64-metre turntable ladder was deployed as an observation platform to monitor the blaze and coordinate firefighting efforts from above.
Borough Commander Lucy Macleod, who was present at the scene, said: “Crews acted swiftly to bring the fire under control, but will remain on site this evening to damp down remaining hotspots.”
Were there any casualties in the Aldgate fire?
Despite the intensity of the flames, London Fire Brigade confirmed that 11 people were safely led from the building. No injuries have been reported so far.
Emergency services remained on-site into the night to ensure the fire was fully extinguished and to monitor for flare-ups.
What impact did the fire have on local travel and congestion?
Significant road closures were put in place around Leman Street, and Borough Commander Lucy Macleod warned of “significant congestion in the surrounding area”.
She urged the public: “We urge the public to avoid the vicinity where possible while we continue to work to make the scene safe.”
What caused the Aldgate flats fire?
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by London Fire Brigade specialists. Investigators were expected to begin detailed work once the scene was declared safe.
Crews were anticipated to remain on-site into Monday morning to complete safety operations and assess structural stability.
