‘Large’ fire breaks out in block of flats opposite O2 arena

Fire broke out in a block of flats in east London this evening, with dozens of firefighters rushing to the scene.

Flames were visible from a balcony of New Providence Wharf, close to Canary Wharf in east London, while black smoke poured into the sky.

One local resident, who runs a Facebook group for the area, wrote: ‘Flames reducing I have been told but be ready to evacuate.

‘Second fire at this block where fire visible from balcony, last fire showed major fire safety issues in the block.’

The block is on the northern bank of the Thames, directly opposite the O2 Arena.

The fire, which has now been contained, broke out on the side of the building facing the river at around 8.47pm, making it more difficult to access from the outside.

The block is in the same development where another significant fire broke out in 2021.

More than 40 people needed treatment after the blaze ripped through the 19-storey building four years ago.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said tonight: ‘Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to a flat fire at New Providence Wharf in Poplar.

‘A small part of a three roomed flat on the 13th floor of the 20 storey building was damaged by fire. A small part of the flat’s attached balcony has also been damaged by the blaze.

‘One man was treated on scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service.’

The Brigade’s received 26 calls alerting them to the fire, and deployed crews from Poplar, Millwall, Plaistow, Shadwell and surrounding fire stations.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

After the devastating fire at Grenfell Tower, cladding on the blocks at New Providence Wharf was replaced to make it safer.

This work by developers Ballymore is understood to have been completed, with scaffolding previously put up during the works no longer visible in footage of the fire shared online.

Posting online, a resident of the flats said the last big fire was almost exactly four years ago today. She wrote: ‘It looks like the remediation work may have done its job. Last time we had dangerous cladding and wooden balconies, those have been replaced.

‘Last time the whole building evacuated and the fire spread quickly, and the fire safety measures failed (like fire doors and AOVs) – this time only the affected block was evacuated.’

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