Dagenham fire latest: Major incident declared as firefighters continue search

Margaret Mullane, the Labour MP for Dagenham and Rainham, has said that injuries due to the fire are “minimal”.

She tweeted: “Terrible scenes in Dagenham this morning as @LondonFire tackle the blaze at Freshwater Rd. Thanks to their rapid response injury was minimal.

“I will be visiting the rescue centre today to see what help and support I can offer the residents and businesses who have lost everything.”

At present, a search and rescue operation for survivors is underway after a fire ripped through the east London tower block on Monday morning.

Up to four people were injured and treated at the scene and two residents were rushed to hospital, the London Ambulance Service said.

The cause of the fire is unknown but it is understood the building was undergoing work to remove non-compliant cladding.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper thanked firefighters and other emergency workers for their “bravery and swift response” to the Dagenham fire.

She said: “My thoughts are with all those affected by the major fire incident in Dagenham. I thank London Fire Brigade and all emergency services on the ground for their bravery and swift response.”

Ms Cooper added that ministers were being kept updated on the incident.

A six-year-old girl having a sleepover with friends was left terrified by the fire as it ripped through the building she was staying in, her father said.

He father Dinesh Rajtold the BBC the children are “calm now”, but were “terrified” initially. He said he received a call at around 3am from his friend telling him there was a fire in the building.

The father told the BBC he rushed to the scene in his car and that his friend’s family grabbed their six-month-old baby and his daughter and got out as soon as they smelled smoke.

Survivors and bereaved family members of Grenfell have paid tribute to those affected by a huge fire that ripped through an east London tower block.

Grenfell United said: “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the fire in Dagenham this morning. We hope all residents are safe and adequately cared for by the authorities.”

The campaign group calls for criminal proceedings brought against those allegedly responsible for a fire in west London which caused the death of 72 people.

Grenfell Tower was covered in non-compliant and highly flammable plastic cladding which made the fire worse and harder to extinguish.

Residents in Dagenham have been urged to keep their windows closed to avoid smoke.

Station Commander Alan Bendell, who is at the scene of the fire, said: “The fire is producing heavy smoke and we’re advising local residents to keep windows and doors closed.

“Two of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders are being used at the scene as aerial water towers to assist with tackling the fire from height.

“Freshwater Road is closed to traffic, so please avoid the area where possible.”