Probe launched into blaze at tower block with safety issues

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) will start “a full investigation” into the causes of a huge fire that ripped through a block of flats in Dagenham, east London, in the early hours of Monday (26 August).

A total of 40 fire engines and around 225 firefighters tackled the blaze at the building on Freshwater Road, which was undergoing remedial works to replace non-compliant cladding.

The whole of the building was affected by the fire, including the scaffolding surrounding the property and the roof being used for the remedial works.

Everyone was accounted for during the evacuation.

London Fire Brigade commissioner Andy Roe said the building had safety issues known to the LFB, which will begin a full investigation into the fire and its cause.

Roe said: “We were called to the incident at 02:44 [on Monday]. The first crew arrived within five minutes and the second crew arrived within six minutes. An aerial appliance also arrived in under six minutes. To allow us to focus our resources on the incident, we declared a major incident, which has now been stood down. 

“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 took place.  

“We will now begin a full investigation into the fire and its cause. This was a very dynamic and challenging incident, and we know there will undoubtedly be concerns around the fire safety issues present within the building and this will form part of our report.”