Croydon fire: Huge blaze rips through block of flats as terrified residents flee & 60 firefighters tackle flames
A HUGE blaze has ripped through a block of London flats, seeing terrified residents flee to safety.
The brigade was scrambled to the scene in Croydon around 5pm today, with 60 firefighters seen battling to bring the blaze under control.
The inferno consumed part of four of the building’s five floors, and terrified residents were said to have fled as the fire took hold of the flats.
Footage from the street showed plumes of black smoke filling the sky, while flames leap from the windows of building.
Locals are now being urged to keep clear of the area.
A mum-of-two was one of the residents forced to flee the flaming building after it went up “in minutes”.
Monique Jackson Joseph, 26, told MyLondon: “A random person off the street came banging on my door after the alarm didn’t go off.
“There was literally a bypasser who ran in. By the time I got out here, the fire was at the top of the building. All he said was ‘Get out now’.”
A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said: “The cause of the fire is not yet known.”
The brigade added: “Eight fire engines and around 40 firefighters have been called to a fire on White Horse Road in Croydon.
“Our 999 Control Officers have taken more than 30 emergency calls. Please avoid the area.”
It added: “Part of the first, second, third and fourth floors of a five-storey block of flats are alight.”