A YOUNG family is in emergency accommodation today after their home was gutted in a blaze in London’s East End last night. The alarm was raised by neighbours when flames swept through the family’s second floor maisonette at Sleat House in Saxon Road, Bow

By April Welsh

A YOUNG family is in emergency accommodation today after their home was gutted in a blaze in London’s East End last night.

The alarm was raised by neighbours when flames swept through the family’s second floor maisonette at Sleat House in Saxon Road, Bow, at 8.40pm. The family were out at the time.

One of the neighbours heard glass smash then someone screaming to kick the door in.

She said: “The smoke was so thick everywhere I couldn’t see out of my window. It was like fog.

“The smoke even seeped into my home—I couldn’t even see my front gate. I was really scared.”

Neighbours either side had to be evacuated after the flames damaged the plastic water tank in the communal loft and sent water seeping into their homes.

Senior fire brigade watch manager Adrian Fenton said: “The flames were bursting out of the windows and spread to the roof when we arrived, but we managed to prevent the fire spreading to neighbouring properties.

“The mother returned while we were there and was distraught at finding her home destroyed. The place is no longer habitable, with the roof and windows burned out.”

More than 20 firefighters were involved, some using breathing apparatus and a thermal image camera searching for anyone through the smoke, but no-one was injured. The cause was later being investigated.