Cause of Whitechapel hostel fire under investigation

A fire broke out at an east London hostel this morning.

Firefighters were called at 8.13am to Wentworth Street in Whitechapel to reports of the blaze.

A part of the flat on the first floor of the building was reportedly alight.

Station commander Tom Ronan, who was at the scene, said one man left the building before crews arrived and was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service.

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Fire crews, he said, carried out a “systematic search” of the building to ensure it was empty.

He added: “Crews worked quickly to bring the fire under control and damp down remaining hot spots.”

Fire crews from Whitechapel, Shadwell, Dowgate, Bethnal Green, Dockhead and Islington fire stations brought the fire under control by 8.57am.

The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation.