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Investigation after fire rips through high-rise
A London Fire Brigade investigation is underway after a blaze ripped through five floors of a council’s high-rise block on Friday.
The fire, at Shepherd’s Court in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, damaged flats between the seventh and eleventh floors of the 18-storey building.
The blaze spread via the outside of the Hammersmith & Fulham Council building, with 50 people evacuated.
One woman suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene, but there were no major injuries reported.
Tower block on fire in Shepherds Bush!! pic.twitter.com/CGMuk58ygC
— goodbye (@thecruelworlds) August 19, 2016
Some residents were placed in nearby hotels by the local authority, with non-damaged parts of the block back in use by Saturday.
Paul Hobbs, the station manager for the London Fire Brigade who was at the scene, said: “The fire spread from the seventh floor via the outside of the building. Crews wearing breathing apparatus used jets to extinguish the fire on each floor of the building. They worked quickly in difficult conditions to tackle the fire.”
The fire brigade was called at 3.44pm, with the blaze under control by 5.32pm. Twenty-five fire engines and 120 firefighters attended. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
20 pumps & support currently dealing with this incident in Shepherds Bush @LondonFire .Stay safe all #HighRisepic.twitter.com/39rAIhcWGc
— Portchester Fire St (@Portchester28) August 19, 2016
In 2009, six people died in a blaze at Lakanal House in Southwark. An inquest later found the fire spread in part due to non-fire-proof panels attached to the outside of the building when it was refurbished.
Andy Slaughter, the Labour MP for Hammersmith, tweeted on Saturday: “Minor injuries and all safely evacuated but Shepherd’s Bush fire was major and life-threatening. Full inquiry needed.”
Hammersmith & Fulham Council has been contacted for comment. The council has a leasehold on the site, but is not the freeholder of the building which is occupied by leaseholders and council tenants.
UPDATE: At 12.30 on 22.8.2016
The story was updated to make it clear that Hammersmith and Fulham Council has a lease on the site but is not the freeholder.
