A man was rushed to hospital after a car caught fire outside the old council area housing office in Rotherhithe in the early hours of Friday morning (October 22).
There were unconfirmed reports from local residents that the fire was caused by a road traffic accident. Police said the vehicle owner was found nearby with burns.
The incident took place at about 1.30am on the roundabout Rotherhithe New Road with Abbeyfield Road. Footage taken by people living across the street in the Silwood Estate shows the fire raging as emergency services arrive.
The former area housing office has been lived in by property guardians, but it is unclear if there is anyone currently living there.
Officers at the scene said no one in the building was hurt. The burnt out car was still cordoned off by police on Friday morning.
Police found the car on fire on regular patrols at about 1.30 in the morning. A spokesperson said that there had been no arrests and enquiries continue.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Firefighters were called to a car alight on Abbeyfield Road in Southwark this morning (Friday).
“One car was destroyed by the fire and there was some minor damage to the front of a nearby property.
“One man was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews. The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took seven calls to the blaze.
“The Brigade was called 0134 and the fire was under control by 0215. One fire engine from Dockhead Fire Station was at the scene.”
Southwark Council submitted plans earlier this month for a thirteen new council homes on the site of the former area housing office. If approved, building work will start in April next year and finish in October 2023. The council’s application describes the site as currently vacant.