Child taken to hospital after flat fire in east London

A child has been rushed to hospital after a fire started in a flat above a restaurant in Chadwell Heath.

The building fire was between Station Road and the Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters from London Fire Brigade tackled a fire at a flat above a shop on High Road in Chadwell Heath at 4am yesterday morning.

The whole of the roof and most of two flats on the first floor were alight.

Witnesses described how a ripped through a shop in east London leaving a family living above fleeing for their lives.

Three people left the building before the fire crews arrived and were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

The Brigade’s control officers took the first call at 4.06am and mobilised crews from Ilford, Dagenham, Romford, Hainault and surrounding fire stations to the scene.

The fire was under control by 7.29am. The cause of the fire is under investigation. While the road is closed, drivers were urged to avoid the area where possible.

Leona Hernandez 24, a mother of two told Metro: ‘The flames were shooting out the roof and someone shouted “get out, get out”.

‘There is a family who live in the flats, Eastern European I think, they managed to get out but one of the kids was taken to hospital.’

Kate Hoyle, 58, said: ‘It was a big fire we were worried it would affect our flat as well as we are only a few doors down but they caught it in time.’

Toby Adeola runs the Chadwell Heath nursery just behind the scene of the fire.

He told Metro: ‘We are really in shock I just hope the child is ok. We have had to tell all the parents of the nursery about it but luckily have been able to open because the fire didn’t reach us.’

Fire investigators are at the scene working to establish the cause of the fire, while builders put up scaffolding to make the scene safe.

A fire service statement said: ‘The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

‘Control officers received the first call at 4:06 am, prompting a rapid response to the scene.

‘This incident has left the local community shocked, and authorities are urging residents in the area to remain vigilant as investigations continue.’

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