A fire in Sidcup has left a woman and child hospitalized, with both suffering from smoke inhalation, while a man received treatment at the scene. The incident occurred earlier today on Woodside Road in Sidcup.
At approximately 7:30 am, emergency services responded to reports of a fire at a semi-detached house on Woodside Road, which had been converted into an office and several flats. Six fire engines and approximately 40 firefighters, including crews from Sidcup, Eltham, Bexley, Bromley, Plumstead, and surrounding fire stations, rushed to the scene to combat the blaze.
The fire caused significant damage to part of the first floor and the roof of the building, leading to a response from the London Ambulance Service. Paramedics transported a woman and a child to the hospital due to smoke inhalation, while a man was treated on-site.
The fire was brought under control by 9:06 am, approximately an hour and a half after the initial call to the London Fire Brigade at 7:31 am. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Notably, the Brigade introduced its new command units at the incident. These specially designed vehicles, converted single-decker buses, are equipped with advanced technology, including deployable cameras, computers, and communication equipment. The units enhance situational awareness and information sharing among incident commanders and remote monitors, marking a significant step in the Brigade’s efforts to provide better service to Londoners.
Station Commander Stephen Irvine commented on the successful deployment of the new command units: “The deployable camera, carried on each command unit, was used to stream imagery back to incident commanders, enhancing situational awareness.
The London Fire Brigade continues to investigate the incident as they work to determine the exact cause of the fire.
