More than 70 firefighters tackled a major blaze at a row of shops in Hackney, east London, on Tuesday afternoon. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the fire started at a joinery shop on Yorkton Street at around 13:00 BST and was brought under control by 18:00 BST.
Thick black smoke from the fire was visible for miles, prompting the LFB to advise residents in the area to keep their windows and doors closed. A man, believed to be in his 50s, was taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, according to the London Ambulance Service.
Scotland Yard confirmed that nine people were inside the building when the fire began. All were safely escorted from the premises by firefighters. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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