Huge blaze leaves east London store 'severely damaged': authorities

LONDON: The London Fire Brigade said on Wednesday 15 fire engines and 97 firefighters and officers were tackling a huge blaze in a department store in the east of the city.

Half of the ground floor of the Poundland discount store on Old Church Road in Chingford in Chingford was alight, the London Fire Brigade said in a statement.

 

"Part of the first floor and roof is also on fire."

No casualties were initially reported. The cause of the fire was not known, the brigade said.

Fire enveloped the "whole of the first floor and roof" of the store. the statement added.

No casualties were initially reported. The cause of the fire was not known, the brigade said.

"At this early stage, the fire is being treated as suspicious. Three suspects were seen to leave the area soon after the fire started," a police spokesman said.

The website of the London Evening Standard quoted police as saying however that an investigation had been launched.

On the other hand, "a mother and daughter in an adjacent flat saw smoke and evacuated the property unhurt", Danny Meakin – a station manager present at the scene – said.

"Crews will be at the scene throughout the night damping down pockets of fire," the brigade added.

Police said nearby homes had been evacuated.