‘Everything’s gone’: Neighbours escape devastating flat fire that ripped through homes

A fire that ripped through a building has “ruined” the lives of families and businesses who live and work there.

The blaze, in Lee High Road, Lewisham, started at around 1.15pm this afternoon and tore through a ground and second floor flat, as well as two adjoining businesses.

Daryl Morgan, 39, owns the Minko’s Mac shop next to where the blaze started and estimates the damage will cost him at least £20,000.

“I could feel banging on the wall and straight away saw smoke then fire at the back of the building,” said Mr Morgan.

“We started banging on windows and doors to get people out. I knew we didn’t have a lot of time.

“The fire brigade took about 10 minutes to arrive and were very professional. Thank God no one was hurt. From what I can see there’s about £20-30,000 of damage to my business.

“My business is ruined. There’s a flood coming in from the water now. Our lives have been ruined. Families’ lives have been ruined.”

The London Fire Brigade said eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters tackled the flat fire. There are no reports of any injuries.

A man who lived on the second floor of the building but did not want to give his name said he managed to escape with his wife and two children. He said their home is completely ruined.

The man said: “I heard someone shout “fire,” and ran down. Everything’s gone, everything is damaged. I don’t know if it’s insured, maybe the landlord has it.

“I have no idea where to stay tonight. I was in the flat with my kids and we all escaped. We just had to get out, that’s it.”

A married couple who live above where the fire is thought to have started said they did not know the level of damage to their flat hours after it started.

Kamyle Citak, 24, said: “I came home from work and saw the lights of the fire engines. I thought it was my flat. We still don’t know the damage.

“I saw smoke coming out of two floors and the doors. There were about 50 firefighters. They started breaking the windows with water.”

Her husband, Yigit Citak, said he was at school teaching when he heard the news from his wife.

He said: “I’m a teacher and was in the classroom. My phone was ringing. I had loads of missed calls and I called back and my wife was crying on the phone. It was a big panic for me.

“Hopefully it’s okay. It’s really stressful. It looks like our flat is damaged. No one has told us if the flat is okay.”

A statement from the London Fire Brigade said: “Half of a three-room ground floor flat in a building of one and three floors with a shop and flats above was damaged by the fire. There were no injuries reported.

“The brigade’s control room received 17 calls about the fire.

“Road closures were put in place in Lee High Road from the junction of Belmont Park and Manor Park.

“The brigade was called at 1.31pm and the fire was under control at 3.44pm.

“Fire crews from Eltham, East Greenwich, Bromley, Lewisham and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

“The cause of the fire is under investigation.”

Pictured top: Lee High Road closed off as firefighters deal with the blaze (Picture: James Twomey)