The aftermath of the homeless tent fire in Tottenham Court Road

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A FIRE ripped through tents where homeless people had been living in Tottenham Court Road late on Sunday night.

Firefighters and the police said the blaze was “not being treated as suspicious” and nobody was injured. The cause is not being investigated.

The blaze torched personal belongings and the edges of some tents that were outside the American Church.

Outreach group Streets Kitchen is in contact with some of the men who had been sleeping there who are feeling “very confused and very shaken”. Luckily, they were out at the time of the fire. They wanted to see CCTV footage of the fire to ensure it was an accident and not malicious.

Elodie Berland from Streets Kitchen told the New Journal: “It is always tragic when someone loses everything they have. Living on the streets is dangerous, exposing people to harsh weather conditions, health risks, and discrimination. Our hearts break for our friends. All we could do was replace their tents and show solidarity. Surely, with the right support systems in place, we can find effective solutions.”

Charity Nishkam SWAT, which visits the tents at the site a few times a week to give out hot meals, said it was “deeply saddened”.

CEO Randeep Singh Lall said: “No one should have to endure such devastating circumstances, especially when already facing the challenges of homelessness.
“We firmly believe in supporting the most vulnerable in our society, and this incident highlights the urgent need for compassion and action. We stand in solidarity with everyone impacted and remain committed to providing assistance where we can.”

Senior minister at the American Church, Jennifer Mills-Knutsen, said she had seen footage of the blaze on social media.

She said: “The video is insane. It’s really frightening. The damage is primarily to the tents and the things people had stored around them which are now mostly a total loss and the advertising board behind them. Nobody knows how it started.”

The Severe Weather Emergency Protocol was activated in London when temperatures plummeted on Tuesday. Those sleeping on the streets will now be able to stay in emergency shelters.