When firemen arrived at Maybury Close in Enfield early, three youngsters were taken to the hospital.
Terrifying images seem to show people ensnared by their windows as flames tear through the roof of the block.
A London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesperson said the victims were taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. Their conditions have since been described as non-life-threatening.
A ‘hero’ neighbour described how he fought through smoke-filled corridors to help evacuate families at 5.30 am.
Yunus Mert, 45, ran from his ground-floor apartment after he made sure his wife and daughter, 9, were safe.
He told Metro: ‘There was smoke everywhere. I was choking, but I battled my way up the stairs to make sure everyone got out.
‘I was banging on doors. There were children and families; I made sure they got out. The fire started in a flat near the top.
‘There were kids I needed to get out – the smoke was thick, I knew we didn’t have much time.’
Yunus, a courier, has been evacuated to a community centre nearby.
He added: ‘It was my birthday yesterday; just thanks everyone is alive.’
Shortly after the fire began, Councillor Rick Jewell, who is spearheading efforts to assist the evacuees, arrived on the site.
He said, ‘There was a crack and then huge flames and a mushroom of smoke. The air was filled with smoke.
‘Every time the firefighters put water on one bit of the roof, another flared up.’
The cabinet member on Enfield council added, ‘We are helping residents and taking them to a community centre so at least they can have a cuppa. ‘It’s terrible.’
Witnesses described how flames shot from the roof of the flat block, leaving scenes of ‘carnage’ like a ‘war zone’.
James Higginson, 45, said he and his family were awoken by shouting followed by a fleet of fire engines racing down the road.
He told Metro: ‘It was proper carnage. I looked out the window after hearing shouting, and then there were fire engines and people coming out of their houses, looking panicked.
‘I opened my door and there was smoke across the street; the heat was incredible. The flames were big. I’m just praying everyone is ok.’
Firefighters were on the scene, trawling through the charred wreckage of the flats as an inquiry into the cause of the fire was established.
The alarm was first sounded at 5.19 am, with brigades from seven stations speeding to the location.
Steven Hinson, 32, said, ‘I saw the fire engines arrive; it was like a war zone or something. It’s very sad to see.
‘It was a huge fire and we are all hoping nobody was badly hurt.’
The fire completely damaged the building’s roof.
Peri, who lives opposite the scene, said, ‘The flames were very big and there was a lot of smoke. ‘It was horrible to see.’
Images show flames raging from the top of the building, which has been largely obliterated. One image seems to show a resident in the window waiting to be saved.
Plumes of grey smoke are seen rising in the sky as firefighters continue to pump water into the core of the fire.
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed no arrests have been made so far in their investigation.
They said, ‘Three children were treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital where their conditions were deemed not life-threatening or life-changing.
‘Police are working alongside the London Fire Brigade to investigate the cause of the fire.
These kinds of fires appear to be on the rise.
These kinds of fires are dreadful, but this is what happens when you create flats—they are not safe. I hope that everyone involved was accounted for and taken care of since it looked horrific.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 