Tonight:
-5°c
More than 150 people fled their homes in the freezing weather after a huge fire broke out early today.
They were evacuated after the blaze started at a building site in Camberwell Station Road at about 2.30am. Seventy-five firefighters and 15 fire engines battled to stop it spreading to nearby homes on the Crawford Estate.
Witnesses told how they were awoken by a "big bang" and saw the timber frame of an unfinished five-storey structure alight, with flames quickly spreading. The fire was not brought under control until 6.15am.
Residents spent the night in a temporary shelter at the Territorial Army centre in Flodden Road and were allowed home later this morning. School catering assistant Joan Cohen, 68, said: "There were very big flames. I heard a big bang and then I was told I had to get out. It was horrible and freezing. I'm really tired now. I'm dying to sleep."
A Southwark council spokeswoman said: "As a precaution about 150 people were evacuated. The Red Cross and our officers provided food, drinks and support."
An investigation into the fire has been launched. It comes after a blaze on a building site in Carisbrooke Gardens, Peckham, in November, when more than 300 people had to flee their homes.
Reader views (3)
I live nearby and I can tell you it was quite worrying.
Like all these things, it is amazing how community spirited people become during times of adversity. Well done to the Fire Service who did not have an easy job putting it out.
Not much left of the building work now, and the scaffolding that was in use is in complete disarray.
- Al, Camberwell, London, 07/01/2010 18:59
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Timber frame buildings are just as safe as a normally constructed building, and possibly better than a steel framed building, when finished, with a brick outer skin
Plasterboard (the inner skin) gives off moisture when heated, timber when heated "chars' before burning, the charring of the timber helps to prevent the frame from collapsing unlike a steel framed building where the steel softens with heat and collapses
Timber frame buildings are only vulnerable when the timber frame is erected, before the inner and outer skins have been finished
Funny how both fires started at night when work had finished, arson perhaps
- Peake A C, Dinan France, 06/01/2010 15:28
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'saw the timber frame of an unfinished five-storey structure alight'.
Make's one think how 'fire-proof' are all these new wooden framed 'social houses / flats' that are being built to keep the cost down for first time buyers.
- Peter C., rainham essex., 06/01/2010 14:52
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