999 control officers gave vital fire survival guidance that helped keep a family of five safe before firefighters rescued them this morning.
The Brigade was called to a fire in a store room on the ground floor of a block of flats on Wentworth Mews in Mile End. Highly skilled 999 call handlers gave life saving advice over the phone which included telling them to put bedding down by the bottom of the door and stand by an open window.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led three adults and two children who received fire guidance to safety from one flat. A further two adults and a child were also led to safety by fire crews from another flat.
Forty-three residents self evacuated before the Brigade arrived. There were all allowed back into their properties once it was safe to do so.
The Brigade was called at 0829 and the fire was under control by 0915. Firefighters from Bethnal Green, Shadwell, Stratford and Homerton fire stations. The cause of the fire is under investigation.