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| Probe into fatal tower block fire | Probe into fatal tower block fire |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A tower block fire that left six people dead, including a three-week-old baby and two children, is being treated as suspicious until a cause is determined. | A tower block fire that left six people dead, including a three-week-old baby and two children, is being treated as suspicious until a cause is determined. |
| About 30 people were rescued from the fire at the 12-storey Lakanal House on the Sceaux Gardens Estate, Camberwell. | About 30 people were rescued from the fire at the 12-storey Lakanal House on the Sceaux Gardens Estate, Camberwell. |
| The blaze started in a flat on the fourth floor, at 1620 BST on Friday. | The blaze started in a flat on the fourth floor, at 1620 BST on Friday. |
| Ch Supt Wayne Chance said: "We would always treat a situation like this as suspicious because we don't know the cause... in the first instance." | Ch Supt Wayne Chance said: "We would always treat a situation like this as suspicious because we don't know the cause... in the first instance." |
| Mr Chance said residents were not being allowed back into the premises because it was being treated as a crime scene. | Mr Chance said residents were not being allowed back into the premises because it was being treated as a crime scene. |
| He said the fire, which was tackled by more than 100 firefighters, had spread rapidly to the 11th floor. | He said the fire, which was tackled by more than 100 firefighters, had spread rapidly to the 11th floor. |
| The bodies of a six-year-old child and two adults were found at the scene. The three-week-old baby, a seven-year-old child, and a woman were later pronounced dead in hospital. | The bodies of a six-year-old child and two adults were found at the scene. The three-week-old baby, a seven-year-old child, and a woman were later pronounced dead in hospital. |
| We were really scared because we couldn't walk - we were crawling through the smoke Nancy Kanu, resident In Pictures: London tower blaze | |
| Hotspots search | Hotspots search |
| Ch Supt Chance said the victims came from "a number of families". | Ch Supt Chance said the victims came from "a number of families". |
| Post-mortem examinations are being arranged. | Post-mortem examinations are being arranged. |
| Of the 30 people rescued, 15 were taken to hospital for treatment, including three who died. | Of the 30 people rescued, 15 were taken to hospital for treatment, including three who died. |
| One person, a firefighter, remains in hospital where he is being treated for minor injuries. | One person, a firefighter, remains in hospital where he is being treated for minor injuries. |
| Eyewitnesses described how the tragedy had left people in the area "shocked". | Eyewitnesses described how the tragedy had left people in the area "shocked". |
| A London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesman said preliminary investigations have been carried out at the scene by two specialist teams. | A London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesman said preliminary investigations have been carried out at the scene by two specialist teams. |
| "They will be working alongside our firefighting crews," he said. | "They will be working alongside our firefighting crews," he said. |
| Fire bosses believe it will take "weeks if not months" to establish how the blaze, in south-east London, happened. | Fire bosses believe it will take "weeks if not months" to establish how the blaze, in south-east London, happened. |
| In addition to the 30 people who were rescued, at least 120 people were evacuated from the building. | In addition to the 30 people who were rescued, at least 120 people were evacuated from the building. |
| Those who were forced to leave their homes were taken to an emergency centre, set up by Southwark council in nearby Welton Hall. | Those who were forced to leave their homes were taken to an emergency centre, set up by Southwark council in nearby Welton Hall. |
| The fire started on the fourth floor and rapidly spread to the 11th floor | |
| The vast majority stayed with friends or family overnight and 20 were provided accommodation by the council. | |
| Firefighter Paul Glenny, who tackled the blaze, said: "I've been in the job for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like it. | Firefighter Paul Glenny, who tackled the blaze, said: "I've been in the job for 30 years, and I've never seen anything like it. |
| "The hot weather and the fact that people's windows were open made the fire what it was." | "The hot weather and the fact that people's windows were open made the fire what it was." |
| Carol Hunter, who lives in a building that backs on to Lakanal House, described hearing a "huge bang and then flames were everywhere". | Carol Hunter, who lives in a building that backs on to Lakanal House, described hearing a "huge bang and then flames were everywhere". |
| "It was horrible. We saw lots of children banging on the windows to get out and families screaming," she said. | "It was horrible. We saw lots of children banging on the windows to get out and families screaming," she said. |
| "There was even bed sheets tied together hanging out of windows with people threatening to jump out. We saw body bags coming out. I felt sick." | "There was even bed sheets tied together hanging out of windows with people threatening to jump out. We saw body bags coming out. I felt sick." |
| Nancy Kanu, who lives on the fifth floor, said she saw smoke coming in through her window and in the stairwell. | Nancy Kanu, who lives on the fifth floor, said she saw smoke coming in through her window and in the stairwell. |
| Speaking from the emergency centre, in Bushey Road, she said: "We were really scared because we couldn't walk - we were crawling through the smoke. | Speaking from the emergency centre, in Bushey Road, she said: "We were really scared because we couldn't walk - we were crawling through the smoke. |
| "My sister was there with her three-day-old baby, who is now suffering breathing problems and I was there with my two kids." | "My sister was there with her three-day-old baby, who is now suffering breathing problems and I was there with my two kids." |
| 'Tragic situation' | 'Tragic situation' |
| Architect Alastair Bowden, 31, who lives nearby, said: "It's quite dramatic to see a tower block on fire. It has shocked everyone." | Architect Alastair Bowden, 31, who lives nearby, said: "It's quite dramatic to see a tower block on fire. It has shocked everyone." |
| Chief Supt Wayne Chance: "Priority is to make the scene safe" | Chief Supt Wayne Chance: "Priority is to make the scene safe" |
| Harriet Harman MP, whose constituency includes the tower block, said it was "clearly a very tragic situation". | Harriet Harman MP, whose constituency includes the tower block, said it was "clearly a very tragic situation". |
| She said: "There will have to be a thorough investigation into what caused this fire and whether the prevention was adequate." | She said: "There will have to be a thorough investigation into what caused this fire and whether the prevention was adequate." |
| Southwark council leader Nick Stanton described the incident as "ghastly" and said it was likely to be "days if not weeks" before tenants could return. | Southwark council leader Nick Stanton described the incident as "ghastly" and said it was likely to be "days if not weeks" before tenants could return. |
| He also praised the work of the emergency services, saying he was "in awe of the courage and professionalism" shown. | He also praised the work of the emergency services, saying he was "in awe of the courage and professionalism" shown. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it was still too early to say how the fire started and that officers were working with the LFB's investigation team to establish the cause. | The Metropolitan Police said it was still too early to say how the fire started and that officers were working with the LFB's investigation team to establish the cause. |
| It said its priority was to make the building safe. | It said its priority was to make the building safe. |
| Residents worried about relatives can call 0300 123 1212 for further information. | Residents worried about relatives can call 0300 123 1212 for further information. |
| Are you in Camberwell? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: | Are you in Camberwell? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC you can do so using the form below: |
| You can also send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can also send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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