Off-Duty Fire Boss Climbs Builders Ladder to Rescue Five from Flames
A heroic off-duty London Fire Brigade officer sprang into action to save five people from a blazing flat above a shop on Chadwell Heath’s High Road last Thursday night.
Smoke, Screams and a Builder’s Ladder
Station Manager Paul McClenaghan was visiting his mum nearby when he spotted smoke rising in the distance. Without a second thought, he raced towards the danger.
“I saw a woman screaming from a window,” Paul said. “Her escape was blocked by thick smoke creeping up the external staircase.”
Quick-thinking Paul flagged down a builder’s van to call the fire brigade and borrowed their ladder. Scaling the side of the building, he rescued the terrified woman from the smoke-filled first floor. But he wasn’t done yet.
Firefighter’s Instinct Saves the Day
“Once she was safe, I went back in and helped four more people escape as smoke started to enter the flat,” Paul added. “It was instinctive—my training just kicked in.”
Paul, who spent six and a half years as Station Manager at Dagenham Fire Station and now serves at Lambeth, said: “Helping people is what we do, even when we’re off-duty.”
Swift Action Limits Damage and Injury
All five rescued and Paul himself were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation by the London Ambulance Service.
Fire crews from Ilford, Romford, and Hainault quickly doused the flames, limiting damage to parts of the ground and first floor.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner for North East London, Al Perez, praised Paul’s bravery but warned: “In a fire, always call 999 first—never attempt a rescue yourself.”
Cause of Fire Likely Careless Smoking
The blaze, which started around 7.15pm and was under control by 8.45pm, is believed to have been caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials like cigarettes or matches.
