Children killed in tower block fire (From Haringey Independent)

Children killed in tower block fire

8:47pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in

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A three-week-old baby, a seven-year-old child and an adult have died after fire ripped through a tower block.

More than 100 firefighters tackled the blaze at the 12-storey block of flats in Camberwell, south London.

Firefighters rescued 30 people from the block and 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation and minor injuries.

London Fire Brigade said the blaze had been brought under control and fire investigation teams were on the scene.

Emergency services were called to Lakanal House in Havil Street at 4.25pm on Friday.

Southwark Council leader Nick Stanton said: "This is a terrible thing to have happened and my thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family of the children who have died and those people affected by this fire."

Sarah Gresty, who lives nearby, said she could see a column of flames and smoke in the flats going up a number of floors.

"It was very alarming seeing it," she said. "The fire was going in quite a few flats. It was shocking to see the quantities of smoke and flames."

In a statement, London Fire Brigade said: "Eighteen fire engines, a range of special appliances and over 100 firefighters are fighting a serious fire in a tower block in Havil Street, Camberwell, this evening.

"The fire is believed to have started on the fourth floor and to have spread rapidly to the 11th floor. A number of rescues have been carried out in extremely difficult circumstances and fire crews equipped with extended duration breathing apparatus are working very hard to reach those still affected and carry out an exhaustive search of the building."