Fire alarms in a Chadwell Heath flat failed to alert residents to a fire that put three people, including a child, in hospital. 

The London Fire Brigade has provided an update on the major fire in High Road, which caused a road closure after two flats were destroyed. 

The blaze is believed to have been accidental but the exact cause has been recorded as undetermined.

Twelve fire engines were sent to the scene of the fireTwelve fire engines were sent to the scene of the fire (Image: Peter Murch)

A spokesperson said: “There were smoke alarms in this property, but they failed to alert the residents to the fire.

"We urge people to have working smoke alarms on every level of your home and to test them regularly.

"Smoke alarms will give the earliest possible warning if a fire breaks out in your home."

The road was closed off during the hours-long ordealThe road was closed off during the hours-long ordeal (Image: Peter Murch)

Photos from the scene of the incident have shown the significant emergency response, with around 80 firefighters dispatched from across east London to help extinguish the fire. 

READ MORE: Child taken to hospital after three-hour flat fire in Chadwell Heath

The blaze took just over three hours to put out. 

The cause of the fire has been recorded as undeterminedThe cause of the fire has been recorded as undetermined (Image: Peter Murch) Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 4.06am on December 1, with crews arriving to find that 19 people had managed to escape the building. 

The condition of the child and two other patients who were taken to hospital has not been confirmed.