Rainham: Billowing smoke from fire at suspected cannabis factory

A fire at a ”suspected cannabis factory” caused heavy smoke seen from miles around.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters attended an industrial estate in Marsh Way in Rainham on Saturday morning (May 6).

The whole of the first floor of a two-storey industrial unit was destroyed. A small part of the roof was also damaged by the blaze.

London Fire Brigade said the address was a “suspected cannabis factory”.

Station Commander Alan Bendell said: “There’s a lot of heavy smoke in the local area so residents living nearby were advised to shut doors and windows this morning.”

The Brigade was called at 8.21am and the fire was under control by 10.35am. Fire crews from Wennington, Dagenham, Barking, East Ham and surrounding fire stations were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.