Three taken to hospital after high rise tower fire in Bramley
Fire service say blaze was brought under control quickly
Last updated 27th Mar 2018
Firefighters say everyone has been accounted for after a blaze broke out on the eighth floor of a residential tower block in Bramley this morning.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service say a man, woman and child were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation following the fire in the block in Poplar Way, Bramley.
A spokesman said six fire engines were initially sent to the scene after a call was received at 10.29am but this was scaled back pretty quickly.
He said: “A man, woman and child managed to get themselves out of the building and have been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Their injuries are not believed to be serious. All persons are now accounted for.”
Smoke from the fire was visible across large parts of Leeds on Tuesday morning and witnesses said flames could be seen coming out of the window of the flat involved.
Fire service incident commander Richard Gomersall told Radio Aire that all residents were evacuated from above the eighth floor but those living below were told to stay in their homes.
He said: “Above the fire we made a systematic search of every flat and we evacuated everyone above the fire, below the fire there was a stay-put policy in place for those people below the fire.
“Because it’s low pressure today the smoke was not rising, if you like, so it was very very smoky in the area, there was a lot of fuel in the fire compartment, which added to the smoke situation.”
Residents that Radio Aire spoke to told us of their fear that another Grenfell Tower disaster was happening – as there were no central fire alarms in the building and no fire suppression or sprinkler system.
But Richard Gomersall says that’s not a huge concern in a building of this nature: “These flats, believe it or not are very safe. They’ve got a lot of safety compartmentation in them, so the fire shouldn’t spread, they’ve got a lot time before the fire can get to other parts of the building”
Leeds West Labour MP Rachel Reeves said in a statement: “My thoughts go out to residents in Poplar Court after the very worrying fire reported earlier this morning.
“I would like to thank the emergency services for their swift response in tackling the blaze and for ensuring the safety of local people living in the high-rise blocks and surrounding houses in Bramley.
“Whilst a full investigation into the circumstances of this fire must be carried out, I want to assure local residents that I am doing everything in my power to support them after this incident, and that I will continue to fight for improved fire safety in all high-rises.