A huge fire tore through a London tower block last night, sending flames and thick smoke billowing into the sky and prompting a major emergency response.
The blaze broke out shortly before 8pm at Emanuel House, a seven-storey residential building on Rochester Row in Westminster, Central London.
Flames were seen engulfing flats on the sixth floor, with dramatic footage shared on social media showing smoke pouring from the building. The property is understood to be owned freehold by Westminster City Council.
Westminster fire. pic.twitter.com/T90fzDFyZo
— Lord Chop (@LordSamuelChop) May 23, 2025
The London Fire Brigade said it received 23 emergency calls about the fire, which triggered a large-scale response involving 75 firefighters and ten fire engines. Crews from Lambeth, Soho, Paddington and other nearby stations were sent to the scene.
In a statement, the Brigade said: “Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are responding to a fire on Rochester Row, Westminster.
“The fire involves a sixth floor flat, in a residential block of seven floors.
“Two of the Brigade’s 32m ladders have been deployed to the scene, alongside the Drone Team.”
Emergency services advised people to avoid the area due to significant disruption and road closures. Local traffic was heavily impacted.
“The Brigade received the first of 23 calls reporting the fire at 1950,” the statement added, “with Control Officers mobilising crews from Lambeth, Soho, Paddington and surrounding fire stations to the scene in response.
“Firefighters were able to bring the fire under control by 2132.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
