Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a flat fire on Fairfield East in Kingston.
A three-roomed ground floor flat in a three-storey residential building was completely destroyed by the fire. One woman suffering from smoke inhalation was rescued by fire crews wearing breathing apparatus using an escape hood and was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. One adult was led to safety from the second floor by fire crews using an escape hood and two further adults left the building before the Brigade arrived.
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 0735 and the fire was under control at 0923. Fire crews from Kingston, Surbiton, New Malden, Twickenham, Wimbledon and Richmond fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.