THE catastrophic blaze at Grenfell Tower broke out shortly after midnight when many of the 500 or so residents would have been in bed.
The fire — thought to have started on the fourth floor by a dodgy fridge — took hold and ripped up the outside of the building.
This timeline shows how the disaster unfolded, with temperatures reaching over 1,000C in parts.
Timeline of high-rise horror 12:30am Residents smell burning plastic, thought to be the cladding which would carry flames up the face of the building.
12:54am First call to firefighters, who then rush 40 fire engines to the scene to tackle the rapidly spreading inferno.
1am The first fire engines arrive on the scene to tackle the growing blaze.
2.41am Eye witness accounts start emerging as Fabio Bebber says on Twitter: “We can see how quick the fire spreads via the external panels. It’s unbearable hearing someone screaming for their lives.”
2.50am News breaks that 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters are battling the mega blaze as it engulfs the tower block.
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Live from the scene3.10am Residents seen flashing torches to get help. Amazing Spaces presenter George Clarke said: “It’s so heartbreaking, I’ve seen someone flashing their torches at the top level and they obviously can’t get out.”
7.45am Fire Brigade announce fatalities as Commissioner Dany Cotton describes the “unprecedented incident” as on a scale unlike anything in her 29-year career.
8.30am A fridge catching alight is blamed for causing the fire which then engulfed the block.
11.13am Police reveal six people are confirmed to have been killed in the horrific flames and thick black smoke.
5pm Death toll rises to 12 as Commander Stuart Cundy, of the Met Police, reveals: “I do anticipate the number of fatalities will sadly increase beyond those 12 people.”
Quick response . . . ambulances arrive at the scene Credit: Eyevine Shield . . . cop protects fireman from debris Credit: London News Pictures Interior view . . . example of flat before fire What we know so far:
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