Firefighters have rescued five people from a flat fire in Liverpool Road, Islington this morning.
Crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued one woman and two children from the third floor via a ladder and led a woman and a man to safety via an internal staircase. They were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews as a precaution.
Station Manager Jerome Kumedzina who was at the scene said:
“Thankfully a smoke alarm sounded alerting a woman to a fire in her flat so she had an early warning and was able to call the Brigade. This fire broke out early in the morning, without the alarm the fire could have easily spread undetected.
“There is no doubt that without the vital combination of the smoke alarm and the quick work of firefighters this story could have had a very different ending. Everyone should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and the safest option is have those linked together. This will give the earliest warning if there is a fire in your home."
A flat on the second floor was completely damaged by the fire.
Thirty-five firefighters and officers attended the incident with six fire engines from Islington, Holloway, Shoreditch, Kentish Town and Euston fire stations.
The Brigade was called at 0446 and the fire was under control at 0651. The cause of the fire is under investigation.