A fierce fire erupted around 3pm on March 18 in a first-floor flat on Cooper’s Road, Southwark. The flames raged just metres from the Old Kent Road fire station, which was empty at the time as 70 firefighters were tackling another blaze in Tulse Hill.
Two 16-year-old boys were caught in the horrific fire. One boy managed to escape before firefighters arrived but was rushed to hospital with serious facial injuries. Tragically, the second boy died at the scene.
The London Fire Brigade dispatched 25 firefighters from Dockhead, Dowgate, Shadwell, and Whitechapel stations. After a tense battle, the blaze was brought under control by 4:30pm.
The Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade have launched a joint investigation into the fire, which is not being treated as suspicious.
A police spokesperson said, “At around 3pm on March 18, police responded to reports of a fire at a residential address in Coopers Road, Southwark. Officers attended with the London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service. Sadly, a 16-year-old boy was pronounced dead at the scene. His family are being supported by specially trained officers. Another 16-year-old suffered serious facial injuries and was taken to hospital. We await updates on his condition. The circumstances remain under investigation, though at this stage the fire is believed to be non-suspicious.”
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson added, “Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled the fire within a flat in a six-storey building. The Brigade’s Control Office took the first call at 2:57pm, with crews from Dockhead, Dowgate, Shadwell, and Whitechapel attending. The fire was brought under control at 4:34pm. The cause is being investigated by the Brigade’s Fire Investigation Unit and the Metropolitan Police Service.”
The deadly fire has stunned the Southwark community. Officials are urgently working to piece together how this heartbreaking tragedy unfolded.
Originally published by UKNIP.
