Cannabis Plants Discovered After Fire Evacuation in North London Flats

The Metropolitan Police announced that a man has been apprehended following the discovery of cannabis plants at a block of flats in north London where a fire had erupted. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was summoned to the blaze on the Bakersfield estate in Islington at approximately 04:00 GMT, leading to the evacuation of around 35 individuals from the 10-storey structure. Police indicated that investigations into the circumstances of the fire are ongoing. The 41-year-old individual remains in custody, having been arrested on suspicion of producing a controlled drug or being involved in its production. No injuries were reported, and the fire was brought under control within 90 minutes by approximately 60 firefighters who responded to the incident. Crews located a three-floor maisonette, extending from the ground to the second floor, alight. The brigade reported that the fire damaged a section of every floor within the property. The police force stated: “Officers attended the scene and assisted LFB whilst they extinguished the fire.” They added: “Following enquiries on scene, a number of cannabis plants were found.” Residents who were evacuated from the building were taken to a temporary rest centre at a nearby church, and some have since been permitted to return inside. Among those evacuated was Joe, who lives on the eighth floor with his pregnant partner and two-year-old daughter. He recounted: “The smoke was just filling up in our flat.” He explained they struggled to locate an escape route and “ran through the smoke and ran around the bridge to the other side of the block” to flee. He continued: “My daughter, she seems ok, my partner seems alright but we’re going to go and get checked out.” He described the experience as: “(It was) absolutely terrifying, I can’t think of anything worse.” Another resident, Lizzie, informed BBC London: “Our flat was filled with smoke and we thought it was something in our flat, so we went down to investigate and then we realised it was coming from the flat below.” She continued: “Then we just got out and when we left the building we could see flames coming out from the flat below us.” She further added: “It was pretty scary how quickly the smoke filled up our flat but I’m just glad that everyone’s OK.” Bethan, who resides with Lizzie, stated: “I’m slightly lower down in the flat because it’s a maisonette so when I opened my door I knew it was bad because there was so much smoke. “I probably reacted a little bit more extremely than Lizzie so I was up at the front door and one of our neighbours knocked at the door and said ‘you need to get out’.” She further elaborated: “Opening the door, and seeing how much smoke that was there, I knew that we had to go.” She mentioned they were able to escape the building by reaching a fire escape stairwell that was free of smoke. Bethan concluded: “We were more worried because we couldn’t see anyone else leaving.” The LFB confirmed that crews from Kentish Town, Holloway, Islington, and surrounding fire stations were dispatched to the scene.