Canning Town fire: Tower block blaze sparks evacuations as seven people taken to hospital

Seven people have been taken to hospital after a blaze ripped through a construction site in east London.

Firefighters were scrambled to the scene opposite Canning Town tube station at just before 8.30am on Tuesday.

The fire, which broke out in a commercial unit on the ground floor, sent thick plumes of black smoke into the capital’s sky with firefighters ordering local residents to close their windows.

Seven people were taken to hospital by ambulance after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Three other people were treated at the scene by paramedics.

Fire investigators are now combing through the site of the blaze for clues to how its started.

Around 70 firefighters in 10 fire engines responded to the scene, with LFB receiving more than 30 calls alerting them to the fire.

The brigade said the blaze was brought under control by 9.36am, around an hour after it broke out.

One person was rescued by firefighters using a 13.5m ladder as locals looked on.

The A1011 Silvertown Way is closed between the A13 Canning Town Flyover and Hallsville Road as emergency services respond.

London Ambulance Service scrambled ambulances and expert crews including a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the scene.

“Our first paramedics arrived on scene in less than three minutes,” said a spokesperson.

“We treated 10 people in total. We took seven patients to hospital and discharged three patients at the scene.”

Dramatic images showed the moment a man was rescued from the blaze as smoke continues to engulf the scene.

The London Fire Brigade confirmed one person was rescued with the image showing a man standing on a crane as smoke swirls around him.

It added that alongside the seven people taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, a further three people were assessed on scene.

Around eight people left the construction site before firefighters arrived, and everyone known to be on the site has been accounted for, according to the emergency services.

Thebrigade spokesperson added: “The fire is now out but we remain on scene for the time being and we continue to advise people to avoid the area.”

Newham Council said police evacuated some neighbouring buildings.

A spokesperson said: “Police and Fire Service are on scene carrying out an evacuation of the surrounding buildings.

“Please evacuate the scene if you have been asked for your safety.”

The blaze was in the Hallsville Quarter development, which is under construction opposite Canning Town station.

It is a £600m scheme billed as a new town centre for Canning Town eventually expected to provide 1,100 homes.

The London Fire Brigade said the fire was located in a construction site and one of the Brigade’s 64m ladders was deployed to the scene.