Residents tell of escaping the Grenfell Tower
Residents of Grenfell Tower who managed to escape the fire that ravaged their building early on Wednesday morning have described how they fled as the blaze took hold.
The survivors, whose belongings are presumed to have been destroyed, gathered in the nearby Rugby Portobello community centre where they were given water, clothes and blankets.
At least 200 firefighters and 40 engines are on the scene of the huge fire at Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road, near Notting Hill, in West London. One resident, who did not want to give his name, said he first heard a neighbour’s smoke alarm and “thought nothing of it”, but realised something was wrong when he heard a neighbour shouting.
“I’m lucky to be alive – and lots of people have not got out of the building,” he told Guardian. “I’ve lost everything I own. I’m standing here in everything I’ve got.”
- A huge fire has engulfed a tower block in West London.
- Trapped in the Fire Screaming for Help Video
- The fire broke out shortly before 1am on Wednesday at Grenfell Tower in Latimer Road near Notting Hill.
- The tower is at least 24 storeys high and contains 120 apartments.
- 200 firefighters have been tackling the blaze with 40 engines.
- London Ambulance Service say they were called at 1.29am and have 20 crews helping at the scene.
- 30 people have been taken to five London hospitals.
- There have been multiple reports of people trapped in the blaze.
- Guardian reporter at the scene says at least one man can be seen at a window waving and calling for help.
- Streets around the tower have been sealed off and residents in their houses told to move out.
- Falling debris is also causing nearby flats to be evacuated.
- London Fire Brigade say there is no known cause at the moment for the blaze.
- The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has declared the fire a “major incident”.
- Transport for London says there is no service on the Circle and Hammersmith and City lines between Hammersmith and Edgware Road.
- The A40 Westway has been closed in both direction.
- Grenfell Tower, which was built in 1974, had recently undergone a major refurbishment.
- The Metropolitan Police have an emergency number for anyone concerned for loved ones. The Casualty Bureau number is 0800 0961 233
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If you’re just waking up, here’s what you need to know about the devastating blaze at Grenfell Tower.
- The apartment block on the Lancaster West estate in north Kensington continues to burn after the fire brigade was alerted shortly before 1am Wednesday.
- Forty fire engines and over 200 firefighters were sent to tackle the blaze through the early morning, “working extremely hard in very difficult conditions” to tackle the “large and very serious incident”.
- Though many witnesses said they saw people trapped inside their homes, emergency services gave no further details beyond saying that 30 patients were taken to five hospitals.
- The fire brigade is expected to give an update soon; areas of the building are still on fire, prompting concerns it may collapse.
- About 30 flats in the surrounding area have been evacuated and emergency rest centres have been set up for those told to leave their homes.
- Police have set up an emergency number for people concerned for friends and families on 0800 0961 233.
- A resident group repeatedly warned of a fire risk at the tower, claiming that a major fire had been narrowly averted after a power surge in 2013.
- The building recently underwent significant, multimillion-pound renovations that concluded in early 2016.
- The borough of Kensington and Chelsea said the cause of the fire will be investigated, but for now the focus is on supporting emergency services in their rescue and relief operation.
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