Woman rescued in east London apartments block blaze

A total of 125 firefighters helped tackle the blaze and eyewitnesses told reporters that debris fell from the building opposite Aldgate East Underground station. 

Some said there were “awful scenes” as large panels of glass fell hundreds of metres to the ground and smoke poured out of the windows.

Station Commander Chris Jenner, who was at the scene, said: “This was a dynamic and visible fire with our 999 Control Officers taking more than 50 calls in the early stages. A woman was trapped by the nature of the fire on the 17th floor.

“She was given fire survival advice by control officers until firefighters located her. Fire crews used a fire escape hood to help lead the woman to safety via the internal staircase. Around 60 people evacuated the building with others remaining in their unaffected flats.”

A number of commercial units under rail arches also caught alight as did four cars and a telephone box.

Station Commander Mr Jenner said it had been the "professionalism, hard work and quick actions of control officers and firefighters" that had limited damage to the block and prevented serious injuries.