Two rescued from early morning fire in Poplar

Sarah Shaffi Saturday, September 22, 2012
11:18 AM

Two men were rescued from a fire affecting a restaurant and a block of flats in Poplar.

Part of the ground floor of the building in West India Dock Road was damaged by the blaze and the flats above were affected by the smoke.

Four fire engines and 20 firefighters from Poplar, Millwall and Shadwell fire stations were called to the incident at 5.57am on Friday morning. The fire was under control by 6.34am.

Crew manager Charlee Barclay, who was at the scene, said: “Crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued two men who were trapped by smoke in the flats above the restaurant, and six other people evacuated themselves from the floors above. Crews did well to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation by London Fire Brigade’s fire investigation teams and the Metropolitan Police.