LONDON — A fierce blaze tore through a residential tower block in Westminster Friday night, with flames and thick black smoke billowing from a sixth-floor flat as residents fled the building and fire crews raced to contain the inferno.
The London Fire Brigade dispatched 75 firefighters and 10 fire engines to the scene on Rochester Row after emergency services received 23 calls around 7:50 p.m. alerting them to the fire. The fire, located in Emanuel House — a seven-storey block believed to be owned freehold by Westminster City Council — was brought under control by 9:32 p.m., authorities confirmed.
The dramatic scene saw two of the Brigade’s 32-meter ladders and the LFB’s Drone Team deployed to assist in extinguishing the flames and monitoring the structure. Crews from Lambeth, Soho, and Paddington stations were among the first to arrive.
“The fire involves a sixth-floor flat in a residential block of seven floors,” the LFB said in a statement. “People are advised to avoid the area as crews respond, with local traffic being heavily impacted.”
Videos posted to social media showed intense flames and heavy smoke pouring from windows as stunned onlookers watched from the street. Nearby roads were quickly closed to allow emergency vehicles access and to protect the public.
There have been no immediate reports of injuries, and the number of displaced residents is not yet confirmed. Emergency services remain on-site to assess damage and ensure the building’s safety.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
