Firefighters used the capabilities of Europe’s tallest aerial appliance to help tackle a blaze on the roof of a fifteen storey building under construction on Bradfield Road in Silvertown.
Tower Hamlets Borough Commander Richard Tapp said:
“The fire was in a skip on the roof of a building under construction. The building did not a dry riser main yet that enables water to be accessed by firefighters at height internally. We used a 64 metre ladder to act as a makeshift external dry riser pumping water up to the fifteenth floor. Firefighters could then plug their hoses into the ladder and tackle the fire.
“This incident highlights the ingenuity of our crews and the increase capability our long ladders give London and Londoners.”
The Brigade was called at 0145 and the fire was under control by 0356. Firefighters from Plaistow, Poplar, Millwall, East Ham and Stratford fire stations were at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.