Fulham firefighters used fire escape hoods to help rescue a man and woman after a fire started in their block of flats.
Half of a two roomed flat on the first floor was destroyed by fire. A woman left the property before the Brigade arrived.
There was thick smoke in the lobby and communal stairways. A man and a woman were issued with fire escape hoods by firefighters as they block out toxic fire gases. It enabled crews to safely evacuate them out of the building.
Two adults, one child and a dog also left a neighbouring flat before the Brigade arrived.
The Brigade were the first fire service in the country to introduced fire escape hoods back in October. This week the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan visited Dockhead fire station to see first hand how fire escape hoods are being used. He also viewed our drones and specially trained dogs.
Fire escape hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people. If more than 15 minutes protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer. They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier.
The Brigade was called at 1752 and the incident was over by 1855. Fire crews from Fulham, Chelsea, Clapham and Wandsworth fire stations were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is accidental and is believed to be due to the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.