The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers gave vital fire survival guidance to keep a woman safe before firefighters rescued her from a house blaze in Bethnal Green this morning.
The fire damaged a small part of the kitchen but there was smoke damage to the ground, first and second floors of the terraced property.
Bethnal Green Station Manager Shane Cook who was at the scene said: “This was a small kitchen fire but because of the smoke the lady inside the property at the time was unable to get out of her back bedroom. Our control officers were able to reassure her and provide her with vital fire survival guidance until our crews arrived on the scene.
"This included telling her to open a window and to put bedding down against the door to stop the smoke from getting in. Control officers remained on the phone to the lady until firefighters wearing breathing apparatus located her and were able to lead her to safety down an internal staircase.”
The woman was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service for shock. Following the fire crews visited neighbouring properties in the area to offer residents fire safety advice.
Station Manager Cook added: “We reminded people of the importance of having a smoke alarm and testing it regularly. Everyone should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of their home and the safest option is to have those linked together. This will give you the earliest warning in the event of a fire and buy you vital time to escape."
The Brigade was called at 0859 and the fire was under control by 0927. Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Bethnal Green, Whitechapel and Shoreditch fire stations attended the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.