Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a flat fire on Willow Place in Victoria.
Most of a four-roomed flat on the second floor of the building was damaged by fire. Firefighters rescued a woman from the third floor of the building using a turntable ladder and a further two women were led to safety by crews wearing breathing apparatus using fire escape hoods. One man left the building before the Brigade arrived. A woman and a man were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews and two women were treated on scene.
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 0831 and the fire was under control by 1006. Fire crews from Lambeth, Chelsea and Soho fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.