Published June 14, 2018
Fire sprinklers suppressed a London tower block saving 180 people – 12 months on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The flat fire broke out in the early hours of the morning at the 20-storey tower block in South London.
The blaze, 12 months to the day of the Grenfell tragedy which claimed 72 lives, left terrified residents running for their lives.
But this flat fire was almost immediately suppressed thanks to the installed sprinkler system.
London Fire Brigade confirmed there were no injuries following the fire and damage was minimal.
The blaze is understood to have started on the 12th floor of the building in Lewisham.
Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters were sent to the scene and the 180 residents were evacuated.
The installed sprinkler system quickly tackled the flat fire and damage was restricted to a balcony and part of a four-bedroom flat on the 13th floor.
Residents were accommodated at a nearby leisure centre, and allowed to return home around 7am.
The blaze, in a flat on Elmira Street, Lewisham, started at 04:14 BST and was under control by 05:23.
The fire service sent crews from Lee Green, Deptford, New Cross, Forest Hill and Lewisham after it received 16 emergency calls.
Despite the success of the sprinkler systems, some residents raised concerns about the alleged lack of fire alarms.
Resident Christoph Mayr tweeted: “Evacuated at four this morning. Fire is out and everybody is safe, but very concerned there were no alarms going off. So grateful to the people in the buildings opposite screaming their tits off to alert us.
“Fire brigade and police were amazing, and a lovely kind neighbour was handing out coats and blankets. Thank you!!”
“Again, thinking about Grenfell I feel incredibly fortunate: we all got out without anyone injured or worse, and the material damage seems relatively contained. I can still only begin to imagine the terror of those trapped last year, even if my imagination is more vivid today…”
Fellow resident Caleb Parker tweeted: “I’m also concerned the alarm didn’t sound. Once things settle down we need answers on that, and correct it for the future. So thankful neighbors banged on our door.”
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