Elephant and Castle fire: residents forced to flee tower block blaze in south London

Flames seen engulfing balcony as black smoke billowed out

Three floors of a tower block were evacuated when a fire broke out on the 18th floor.

Around 60 crew and eight fire engines raced to the building in Elephant and Castle, south London, where flames were seen consuming a balcony as thick black smoke billowed out.

No one was reported to have been injured, but the London Fire Brigade said roads were closed and asked people to avoid the area around Deacon Street.

The cause of the fire is not yet known, fire chiefs say.

Station commander Dave Hill, who was at the scene, said: “Crews evacuated residents on three floors of the building who were affected by smoke. There are currently no reports of any injuries.

“The brigade’s drone team assisted by providing an aerial view of the incident.

“Road closures are in place and there is heavy congestion. We encourage people to avoid the area.”

The fire brigade was called at 10.58am, and crews from south and central London, including Lambeth, Dockhead, Dowgate, Brixton and surrounding fire stations, were called to join the effort.

After an hour-and-a-half, the fire brigade said the blaze was under control but that firefighters would remain at the scene during the afternoon.

Since the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster in west London that killed 72 people, there have been heightened fears over tower block safety.

London Ambulance Service said one person was assessed at the scene for treatment not related to the fire, and was not taken to hospital.