A substantial fire erupted late Tuesday evening at a four-storey block of maisonettes on Mount Pleasant Lane, Clapton. The incident, which began shortly after 8 PM on May 5th, prompted a significant response from emergency services, with ten fire engines and approximately 70 firefighters deployed to the scene. Thick plumes of dark smoke were visible across London.
Firefighters successfully evacuated at least one resident from the burning building. While there were no immediate reports of injuries, crews worked through the night to extinguish the blaze and conduct damping-down operations. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that an investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway. Local authorities, including Hackney Council, confirmed all residents were safely evacuated.
Residents in the immediate vicinity were initially advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke. This advice has since been lifted. A 32-metre turntable ladder was utilized to assist in combating the flames from above.
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The fire involved a block of maisonettes, with images and video shared online depicting large columns of smoke rising into the sky. Fire crews were drawn from various stations, including Stoke Newington, Tottenham, and Homerton. Firefighters are expected to remain at the scene for some time.
Background
This incident echoes similar large-scale fires that have occurred in Clapton apartment blocks in recent years. In September 2019, a significant blaze at a five-storey apartment block on Mount Pleasant Lane required the deployment of around 80 firefighters. Dramatic footage at that time showed flames engulfing external balconies from the ground floor to the fifth floor. In that instance, a woman was rescued from the first floor, with no reported injuries. Crews worked through the night, with the fire eventually brought under control.
