A woman and two children were taken to hospital last night following a flat fire in Sydenham that prompted a large-scale emergency response.
The blaze broke out at around 10:10pm on Monday, February 24, in a residential block on Mountacre Close, near Sydenham Hill. The fire damaged half of a storage room on the ground floor, sending smoke billowing through the building and trapping residents inside their flats.
Four fire engines and approximately 25 firefighters from Forest Hill, West Norwood, Beckenham, and Woodside fire stations attended the scene. London Fire Brigade (LFB) crews worked quickly to bring the situation under control, extinguishing the blaze by 12:31am.
Nine people, including four children, were rescued from the building. London Ambulance Service paramedics assessed all those evacuated, with a woman and two children taken to hospital for treatment after suffering smoke inhalation. Their conditions are not believed to be life-threatening.
Residents in a first-floor flat first became aware of the fire after hearing a crackling noise from the rear of the building. Due to smoke filling the stairwell, they called 999 and remained inside their flat until firefighters arrived. LFB Control Officers received six calls about the fire and provided life-saving fire survival guidance to residents trapped inside two flats.
Fire crews used specialist fire escape hoods to lead the nine trapped residents to safety. These hoods, introduced by London Fire Brigade in 2018 following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, provide up to 15 minutes of protection from toxic fire gases, including carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, allowing rescuers more time to evacuate people safely.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson highlighted the importance of these escape hoods, stating, “The hoods offer vital protection in smoke-filled environments, giving firefighters more time to rescue residents and increasing survival chances in dangerous situations.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation by both the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Authorities have praised the swift actions of the residents and emergency services, which helped prevent more severe injuries. Firefighters have also reminded the public of the importance of having working smoke alarms and knowing evacuation procedures in case of fire.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the London Fire Brigade or the Metropolitan Police Service.
