Clapton fire: Families flee in terror as Hackney balcony blaze shoots up six-storey block after suspected arson

Families fled in terror as flames from a suspected arson fire swept up an apartment block in east London.

Residents screamed “fire, fire, get out” as part of the six-storey complex in Clapton was engulfed shortly after 10.30pm last night. Video shows flames leaping 40ft up the side of the building.

A Met police spokesman said: “The cause of the fire is under investigation with the LFB and is being treated as suspicious.”

Police and fire crews remained at the scene in Harry Zeital Way today as residents, many of whom spent the night at a refuge centre, were allowed to return briefly to collect clothes.

Six flats were gutted by the blaze, which was said to have swept up the external balconies in minutes.

Hugo Elias, 42, said he and his partner Rebecca McLaren, 47, grabbed their children, Alexei, 10, and Rosy, six, and ran from their ground-floor flat when neighbours raised the alarm.

“It was terrifying. I was more worried about our friends who live higher up in the block. Thank God everyone is okay,” he said.

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London Fire Brigade said “the balcony from the ground to the fifth floor was destroyed and part of a three-room flat on the fifth floor was damaged.”

Jens Nielsen, 22, a film-maker who lives in the ground floor, said the heat was “unbearable”.

He said: “The flames were huge, and the whole building was on fire. I’m just glad nobody died, it could have so easily been a lot worse.”

Alex Lee, 27, a teacher, said: “We were in bed and still awake when the smoke alarm went off. We just got dressed and came outside.

“Lots of people were coming out of the building and were shouting for help or to warn others to get out.

“We will have to find some place to stay. But the important thing is everyone managed to get out.”

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