A fire at a shop in Barking prompted 16 people to evacuate their homes early this morning (March 7, 2025), leading to a major emergency response and road closures in the area.
Fire and Emergency Response
The London Fire Brigade was called to Ripple Road, near Vicarage Drive and the St Paul’s Road roundabout, at approximately 7:05 AM.
- Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended the scene.
- Part of the shop’s ground floor sustained damage, though the residential flats above remained intact.
- The fire was brought under control by 8:15 AM.
Evacuations and Safety Measures
The London Fire Brigade confirmed that 16 residents from the flats evacuated the building before firefighters arrived. Thankfully, there were no reported injuries.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.
Traffic Disruption
As a result of the fire, Ripple Road was closed in both directions at Vicarage Drive, causing significant travel disruption in the area.
