Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued a woman from a flat fire in Croydon last night.
The woman was suffering from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews before being taken to hospital.
A smoke alarm alerted the neighbour, who called the Brigade after seeing smoke coming from her front door.
Three fire engines and 14 firefighters and officers dealt with the fire at the four storied block of flats on Tavistock Road. The fire damaged the communal hallway on the second floor, and adjoining flats were affected by smoke.
The property was fitted with smoke detectors in the individual flats, but not in the communal hallway.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
"Yet again smoke alarms help saving lives. Our advice is to have a working smoke alarm on every level of your home and the safest option is have the alarms linked together. This will give the earliest warning if there is a fire in your home."
The Brigade was called at 0122 and the fire was under control by 0218. Fire crews from Croydon and Woodside fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation by fire officers and the police.