In dramatic scenes, a worker presumed to be the crane operator sought refuge at the end of the counter jib as thick black smoke engulfed the mast of his Wolff tower crane.

The fire broke out at contractor Bouygues’ Makers Yard residential scheme in the wider Hallsville Quarter in Canning Town.

According to the London Fire Brigade, the fire started within a groundfloor commercial unit in the 10-storey residential building still under construction.

Huge plumes of black smoke engulfed the neighbouring Brunel Street Works apartment and the surrounding buildings.

Building on fire in Canning Town, London.
Looks like a building under construction. Firemen are already on location. pic.twitter.com/RDAVH0EaNQ

— Virginia Vitalone (@vivivitalone) June 4, 2024

It is not clear whether the seven people treated in hospital for smoke inhalation were construction workers or tenants in the nearby buildings. A further three people were assessed on scene.

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters responded to the fire near the Silvertown bus station on Silvertown Way.

The alarm was raised at around 8.30am after the shift had just started on Tuesday morning. Crews had the incident under control by 9.36am.

A spokeswoman for Bouygues said: “Seven individuals were taken to hospital with concerns of smoke inhalation and we are pleased to confirm that all of them have now been discharged.

“We are collaborating with the Fire Brigade Investigation Team and the Metropolitan Police who are investigating the cause of the fire. Ensuring the safety of our workers and the local community is our top priority.

“As this is an active investigation we have no further information at present.”