Homes cleared as Peckham fire rages
Around 150 people were evacuated from their homes after a huge blaze at a building site spread to several blocks of flats.
More than 125 firefighters were tackling the blaze in Peckham, south east London, which spread rapidly in the early hours.
One resident spoke of flames shooting 20ft high from the three and four storey blocks as residents, including mothers with babies, sheltered on the street.
One casualty was treated at hospital for smoke inhalation, with their condition not reported to be life threatening. A total of 25 fire pumps were at the scene, along with police officers and 20 ambulance crews on stand by.
A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said the building site near Carisbrooke Gardens first caught light, with gas cylinders possibly involved. "The fire seems to have spread very rapidly," he said.
The Metropolitan Police said the fire had spread to "several" blocks of flats and other properties in Sumner Road and Rosemary Road.
One eyewitness in the area, Lucy Pope, told Sky News dozens of people were sheltering away from the properties while firefighters tackled the blaze. "People are scared, they are standing in bus shelters and there are babies who have been woken up," she said. "There are people looking very scared."
Ms Pope said surrounding roads were blocked by fire engines, police cars and paramedics.
The evacuated people were being moved to emergency accommodation provided by the local authority. Pictures of the blaze showed flames bursting from the top floors of a four-storey building.
It comes nearly five months after six people died when a fire ripped through a block of flats in nearby Camberwell. The tragedy at Lakanal House on July 3 led to concerns about the design of the building.
