Firefighters Rescue Residents as Blaze Tears Through East London Flats
A major fire broke out late on Tuesday night in a residential block on Cornwall Avenue, Bethnal Green, leaving eleven people hospitalised and prompting a swift emergency response from the London Fire Brigade.
The blaze erupted shortly before 11.40pm, triggering 36 emergency calls from concerned members of the public. The fire, which severely damaged parts of three flats across the ground, first, and second floors of the building, led to a complex rescue operation involving multiple fire crews.
Firefighters from Shadwell, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, and Poplar fire stations rushed to the scene, with around 60 personnel working tirelessly to bring the fire under control. It took over an hour to contain the flames, with the situation stabilised by 1.05am.
Seven individuals were rescued by firefighters equipped with fire escape hoods—a critical piece of safety equipment introduced following the Grenfell Tower tragedy. In total, 17 people received medical attention at the scene, and 11 were subsequently transported to hospital for further care.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “The Brigade’s Control Officers took 36 calls to the fire and gave vital fire survival guidance to three residents on how to stay safe before firefighters arrived.
Part of three flats on the ground, first and second floors of the residential block were damaged by fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used fire escape hoods to rescue seven people from the building. 17 people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews and 11 of those people were taken to hospital.
London firefighters were among the first in the UK to carry fire escape hoods when they were introduced in 2018 as part of improvements following the Grenfell Tower fire. The hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people.
If more than 15 minutes protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer. They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier.”
At this stage, the cause of the fire has not yet been determined and remains under investigation. The swift and coordinated response by emergency services, particularly the use of fire escape hoods and guidance given over the phone by control officers, has been praised for potentially saving lives.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of fire safety measures and preparedness in residential buildings, especially in densely populated areas such as East London.
