The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has received a claim that it was responsible for a firefighter ending up in hospital after tackling a Gants Hill blaze.
The 47-year-old man was taken by ambulance to King George Hospital, Barley Lane, Goodmayes, early on August 4.
He was treated for dehydration and heat exhaustion and released later that morning.
A union source said law firm Thompsons believed they had “reasonable prospects” of proving the LFB was at fault for the injury after a senior officer allegedly blocked a request for extra bottled water supplies as six crews battled 20ft flames at the building in Woodford Avenue, Gants Hill.
An LFB spokesman said: “We have received a claim and we will be investigating it fully, as you would expect.
“This will follow normal procedures, including health and safety reports and interviews.”
The brigade has three months to probe the claim.
Three other people were hospitalised by the blaze above Crosslands Estates, which began at 10pm on August 3.
Two were seriously injured when they jumped for their lives from a second floor window.
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