Emergency services rushed to the scene this afternoon after smoke was seen issuing from a building in Cornelia Place, Erith, located next to the Baptist Church.

London Fire Brigade crews were called to the scene following reports from concerned residents, who noticed smoke coming from the property. The incident occurred shortly after midday, with several fire engines and emergency vehicles attending the scene to assess and contain the situation.

Building Evacuated as Precaution

As a precaution, nearby buildings were temporarily evacuated, and the surrounding area was cordoned off while firefighters entered the premises to locate the source of the smoke. No flames were visible from the outside, but thick smoke could be seen emerging from the upper floor windows.

Local Impact

Traffic in the area was briefly disrupted as emergency crews blocked off part of the street. Residents and churchgoers from the adjacent Baptist Church gathered nearby as crews worked to ensure the area was safe.

The cause of the smoke is still under investigation, and the building will be fully inspected once it is safe to do so.

We await an update from the London Fire Brigade