SAT AM: Six dead, including three children, die in London flats blaze

Jul 4 2009 By Andrew Jackson

Six people, including three children, died in a fire that swept through a block of flats, emergency services said.

A three-week-old baby, a six-year-old and and a seven-year-old died along with three adults.

The blaze, in Havil Street, Camberwell, south London, began on the four floor of the 12-storey block yesterday afternoon and "spread rapidly" to the 11th floor, according to London Fire Brigade.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said: "There were six fatalities - three adults and three children.

"Thirty people were rescued - these 30 people were in immediate peril and were evacuated from the building."

The baby, seven-year-old and an adult woman were pronounced dead in hospital, the spokesman said.

Three other bodies were found at the scene - a six-year-old child, a woman in her 30s and another adult, he added.

He said the cause of the fire was still being probed and added: "Two specialist fire investigation teams have conducted a preliminary investigation into the cause of the incident.

"They will be working alongside our fire fighting crews. There are still hotspots in the structure which could reignite if we don’t extinguish them properly."

Unharmed survivors were taken to an emergency centre in a nearby church hall set up by Southwark Council and the British Red Cross, while the injured were taken to three London hospitals.

Labour MP Harriet Harman, whose constituency includes the tower block, said: "It’s clearly a very tragic situation and the emergency services are working together. People remain calm but it’s a very distressing situation.

"I have been keeping Number 10 informed and I am sure the Prime Minister will be thanking the emergency services shortly.

"I have spoken to the fire authorities and they have yet to identify the cause of the fire.

"The main immediate concern is for the people who have died and for the people fighting for their lives in hospital."

Southwark Council said people evacuated from the Sceaux Gardens estate were taken to Welton Hall in Bushey Hill Road.

A spokesman said: "Arrangements are being made to rehouse those who require it and who are unable to make alternative arrangements."

Council leader Nick Stanton said: "On behalf of Southwark Council, I would like to extend all our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who have tragically died in this fire.

"I am in awe of the courage and professionalism of the fire brigade and other emergency services."

A spokesman for the Met Police said officers were called to the blaze at Lakanal House shortly before 4.30pm.

"It is understood there have been six fatalities: a child believed aged three weeks old, a seven-year-old child and woman were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

"A further three people were pronounced dead at the scene, a child aged approximately six years old, a woman in her 30s and an adult."

The woman died at Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital, while two of the child victims were taken to King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill.

A second adult patient remained in a stable condition in Guy’s and St Thomas’.

Nine patients were discharged from King’s College Hospital after being treated for minor injuries, mainly smoke inhalation, while a further seven people were treated at Lewisham Hospital for "non-serious injuries".

Architect Alastair Bowden, 31, who lives further along Havil Street, said: "You can see about four floors that have been affected.

"It’s quite dramatic to see a tower block on fire. It has shocked everyone.

"People don’t think there’s much of a community in Camberwell but there is. I think it will be felt strongly locally."

Paul Glenny, a firefighter who battled the blaze, said: "I’ve been in the job for 30 years, and I’ve never seen anything like it. The hot weather and the fact that people’s windows were open made the fire what it was."

A crowd gathered in the street for several hours after the fire had been extinguished, staring up at the blackened front of the block.

A number of the flats were completely destroyed by the flames.

Speaking from the evacuation centre at Welton Hall, Bushey Road, Nancy Kanu, 28, who lived on the fifth floor of the tower, said: "We saw smoke coming in through the window.

"The stairs were all full of smoke. We were really scared because we couldn’t walk. We were crawling through the smoke. My sister was there with her three-day-old baby who is now suffering breathing problems and I was with my two kids."

Karin Abdul, 37, who lived on the third floor, said: "We heard lots of noise and I saw the fire.

"We had to run down the stairs. I was really scared. I was with my five-year-old son and was scared for his safety."

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Police think they know the identities of the six killed in the fire and are waiting to inform next of kin and for formal identification before they release their names.

Post-mortem examinations are being arranged.

A dozen people were still being treated in hospital, mostly for minor injuries.

The Met Police said it was still too early to say how the fire started and they were working with the London Fire Brigade’s investigation team to establish the cause.