Following the outbreak of a fire earlier at our Council block on Grantham Road in Little Ilford ward, I am able to report this evening that the fire has been successfully dealt with by the London Fire Brigade, without any serious injury.
My deepest thanks to the heroic efforts of the London Fire Brigade and emergency services who rushed to the scene to help our residents.
Fire fighters were called to Alfred Prior House, Grantham Road E12, at approximately 2:47pm this afternoon, with 15 fire engines and 100 firefighters deployed to contain the blaze that had broken out on the14th storey flat. It is a brick built building and as with all our Council owned blocks did not have any ACM cladding.
Thankfully no-one was seriously injured, though a resident is being treated for the effects of smoke at the scene. My thoughts tonight are with those whose homes have been badly damaged, and with those who would have been understandably frighten when the fire broke out.
Officers from Newham Council were rapidly deployed to the scene as soon as to support the emergency effort, including supporting residents who had left their flats before the emergency services arrived. Our Council team of officers remain on the scene and have opened a rest centre to assist those who have had to leave their flats.
As a result of the fire, which Police believe was accidental, all residents of floors 12, 13 and 14 will be unable to return home due to fire and smoke damage. Our officers are working with all these households affected to find emergency temporary accommodation until they can return home; though all other residents have been allowed back into the block.