Hairdryer Sparks Fire at Woolwich Road Care Home
A blazing fire broke out in a hairdresser’s shop on the ground floor of Parkview care home on Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath, believed to have started accidentally from a hairdryer.
Massive Fire Response as Blaze Erupts
At 11:40 a.m. on March 30, eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters raced to the scene. Thick smoke filled the ground floor, prompting an urgent rescue operation.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus saved four people trapped inside the building. An additional three were escorted to safety. Around 30 residents had already evacuated before the emergency services arrived.
Victims Treated for Smoke Inhalation
The London Ambulance Service treated five people for smoke inhalation at the scene, with four rushed to hospital. Multiple crews, including paramedics and Hazardous Area Response Teams, were on hand.
“The Brigade was called at 11.26 and the fire was under control by 13.02,” said a London Fire Brigade spokesperson. “Hairdryers, hair tongs, and straighteners can get extremely hot, so always turn them off and place them on a heatproof surface.”
Road Closures and Police Response
The Metropolitan Police closed Woolwich Road during the incident. Officers attended alongside ambulance and fire crews to manage the scene safely.
Crews from Sidcup, Eltham, Bexley, East Greenwich, and nearby stations all joined the firefight to bring the blaze under control swiftly.
