A fire at the Aylesbury Estate’s Wendover House has been contained after a blaze broke out in a bin room.
Police say they were called at 5pm today to Thurlow Street, SE17, after reports of a fire in an ‘outbuilding’ near to Wendover House.
Emergency services including paramedics and firefighters were on the scene and the London Fire Brigade brought the blaze under control, with Southwark Council’s housing chief, Stephanie Cryan, confirming it was believed to have started in the bin room.
A ‘controlled evacuation’ was carried out on some floors of the tower and it is believed no one was seriously harmed.
Police say at this stage the cause is not being treated as suspicious, and enquiries continue.
This is the second fire in two months at the Aylesbury, after a pan filled with oil caught light and spread across a third floor flat in September.
As the News reported, a heroic food bank volunteer from Divine Rescue helped kick the door down and rescue the family inside.
Local MP Harriet Harman tweeted that she was in contact with local councillors, emergency services and the council to ensure residents are supported.
Concerned to hear about fire on Aylesbury Estate. In contact with @LondonFire & @lb_southwark who will need to support residents affected. @jackbuck123 @paulwfleming & Cllr Lauder
— Harriet Harman (@HarrietHarman) November 7, 2018
Ark Walworth Academy kindly opened its doors and offered a warm, safe place for anyone evacuated from their homes, and other community groups have offered their support, including the Ledbury Action Group.
If you’re stuck in the evacuation of Wendover blocks by #Burgesspark near the Albany Estate, you can wait it out in our canteen. It’s warm, it’s dry and our doors are open! #community #se1 #se16
— Ark Walworth Academy (@WalworthAcademy) November 7, 2018
To our friends and neighbours at the Wendover block on Aylesbury Estate, if you or any of your neighbours need anything at all tonight, please send a DM to us or @TRCdocumentary x
— Ledbury Action Group (@LedburyAction) November 7, 2018