Firefighters carried out multiple rescues at a flat fire on Dray Gardens in Brixton.
A communal area on the second floor of a residential block was destroyed by fire. Firefighters rescued a woman and a baby using a nine-metre ladder. A further eight women and two men were led to safety by crews wearing breathing apparatus via an internal staircase. They were all assessed on scene by London Ambulance Service crews and two men and one woman were taken to hospital.
The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took 17 calls to the blaze and gave vital fire survival guidance to residents inside the building and on a balcony on how to stay safe before firefighters arrived.
Station Commander Paul Eastland, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked incredibly hard to bring the fire under control and used various methods to rescue people from the building, leading people to safety internally as well as using ladders.
“The fire was located in a communal area and closed fire doors prevented the fire from spreading into the flats. It’s always a good idea to shut internal doors in the event of a fire this can prevent further damage and limit smoke spread.
“There were road closures in place and buses were on diversion whilst crews worked to make the scene safe.”
The Brigade was called at 0810 and the fire was under control by 0927. Fire crews from Brixton, Clapham, West Norwood, Peckham and Battersea fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.