A SECOND tower block in London is on fire as dozens of firefighters rushed to tackle the blaze at a 43-storey high-rise building.
Ten fire engines and some 70 firefighters are tackling the flat fire in a high rise building on Biscayne Avenue in Blackwall, East London.
The London Fire Brigade say half of a flat and balcony on the 25th floor of the 45-storey building is alight.
Video taken of the blaze shows thick plumes of black smoke pouring from an apartment in the middle of the building.
Thick black smoke has been flowing out of the building and locals have been advised to keep windows and doors closed.
The fire service was first called at 1.28pm and have taken over 100 calls about the blaze.
Crews from Millwall, Plaistow, Shadwell and surrounding fire stations are in attendance at the scene.
The cause of the fire is not known at this time.
Dylan Lee, 28, who saw flames and smoke billowing from the structure while he was in his apartment in Canary Wharf opposite, said he felt “dread” at the sight.
The designer and VFX artist said: “Around 13.25, an alarm rang out when I noticed smoke billowing from the apartment.
“Debris and pieces had fallen from the balcony, glass shattered and caused the fire to expand and engulf the space, with flames reaching out as the wind carried the smoke.”
He said the fire brigade arrived 20 minutes later and added: “I felt dread, especially considering this is the second apartment fire in 24 hours in East London alone.
“I’m hoping the residents made it out ok and the firefighters are in one piece. This was somebody’s home.”
A local resident said he heard an alarm going off at around 1.25pm this afternoon.
An eyewitness said: “Around 1:25pm an alarm rang out when I noticed smoke billowing from the apartment.
“Debris and pieces had fallen from the balcony, glass shattered and caused the fire to expand and engulfed the space, with flames reaching out as the wind carried the smoke.
“The fire brigade arrived 20 minutes later and were tackling it from the adjacent apartment around 1:52pm.”
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a flat fire in a high rise building on Biscayne Avenue in Blackwall.
“Half of a flat and balcony on the 25th floor of the 45-storey building is alight.
“The fire is producing a large amount of smoke.
“Those in the local area are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid Biscayne Avenue if possible.
“The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken over 100 calls to the blaze. The Brigade was first called at 1328. Crews from Millwall, Plaistow, Shadwell and surrounding fire stations are in attendance at the scene.
“The cause of the fire is not known at this time.”
A London Ambulance spokesperson said: “We were called at 1.27pm on Monday 26 August to reports of a fire in Blackwall Way, E14.
“We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).
“The first of our crews arrived at the scene in less than a minute.
“The incident is still ongoing and we are currently working with our emergency services partners.”
It comes just hours after 225 firefighters battled a blaze on a tower block in Dagenham, East London, which saw more than 100 people evacuated.
Firefighters have since stood down from the scene in Dagenham, which saw two people taken to hospital.
All of the building’s occupants have now been accounted for, the fire brigade said.
