Fire breaks out in London tower block

Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines called out to blaze in Catford, Lewisham

A fire broke out at a high-rise block of flats in south-east London on the day the Grenfell Tower inquiry report was published.
Flames and black smoke billowed out of the windows of two flats on the ninth and 10th floors of a 13-storey tower block in Catford.
Approximately 70 firefighters, 10 fire engines and several ambulance crews were sent to Rosenthal House, a block of 40 flats built in 1969, shortly before 1pm.
Almost 50 calls were made to 999 dispatchers by members of the public.
Photographs from the scene showed a fireman dousing the flames with a hose from the top of a ladder that extended from the back of a fire engine.
London Fire Brigade said it brought the blaze under control by 2.14pm, at which point there were no reports of deaths or injuries.
The storeys above the window where the fire broke out were left charred black in the aftermath. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
Fire crews from Forest Hill, Greenwich, Deptford, Lee Green and other stations were dispatched to the scene. Metropolitan Police officers manned cordons.
The blaze came hours after the chairman of the Grenfell Tower fire enquiry said the deaths of 72 people in the June 2017 tragedy were “all avoidable”.
An LFB statement said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire at a block of flats on Rosenthal Road in Catford.
“Two flats were alight. There are currently no reports of any injuries.
“Rushey Green remains closed between Rosenthal Road and Honley Road and people are advised to avoid the area whilst firefighters continue to work at the scene.
“The brigade’s 999 control officers took almost 50 calls to the blaze.
“The brigade was called at 1251 and the fire was under control by 1414. Fire crews from Forest Hill, Greenwich, Deptford, Lee Green and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”
A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 12.55pm today to reports of a fire at a tower block in Rosenthal Road, Catford.
“We sent a number of resources to the scene including ambulance crews, incident response officers and members of our hazardous area response team.
“There are no patients so far but we remain on standby at the scene.”
Councillor Will Cooper, Lewisham Council’s cabinet member for better homes, neighbourhoods and homelessness, said: “Council staff are continuing to support residents affected by the fire in Rosenthal Road, Catford. There are no reported injuries or fatalities.
“We are grateful for the quick response of the London Fire Brigade and are working with them to understand the cause of the fire.”