Sixteen people were rescued by firefighters following a fire at a block of flats on Armfield Crescent in Mitcham.
An electrical intake room on the ground floor of the six-storey building was destroyed by the fire.
Crews rescued six people from a first floor balcony via a ladder and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led another 10 people to safety via the internal stairwell. A further 30 people had left the building before the Brigade arrived. There were no reports of any injuries.
Watch Manager Mike Stephens, who was at the scene, said: “There was a lot of smoke coming from the building and a number of loud bangs coming from the electrical intake cupboard.
“The building had been plunged into darkness and there were a lot of people in the communal areas, on balconies and outside the block, so our priority was to lead people who had left their flats to safety.
“Crews did a good job ensuring the safety of residents and tackling the fire, which was contained to the electrical intake room.”
The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took 16 calls to the fire.
The Brigade was called at 2108 and the fire was under control by 2217. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Norbury, Tooting and Wimbledon fire stations attended the scene.
The fire is believed to be accidental and was caused by an electrical fault in the intake cupboard.