It was hard to believe you were in east London residential and not in a bombed suburb in east Ukraine.
The devastation caused by the Dagenham fires yesterday must be seen to be believed.
We made our way through the twisted skeletons of the burned cars, through ash-covered ground, much still smoking and hot to the touch.
Several houses were completely destroyed by the flames, their charred doors and windows opening onto the street beyond.
Deformed beams open to the sky.
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Dozens of families have been evacuated. Many have lost everything.
Improvised shelters have been created, with Dagenham & Redbridge Football Club becoming an activity center.
Food, medical care, social workers and counseling services are offered to displaced families.
A woman broke down as she described to us the trauma of running away from the flames and trying to rescue her dogs from hell.
Some people are slowly being allowed to return home, as firefighters declare their neighborhoods safe, piece by piece.
They are the lucky ones.
Others have nowhere to go and have no immediate prospect of ending their waking nightmare.