Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a flat fire on Ingrave Street in Battersea.
The whole of a four roomed flat on the seventh floor was destroyed by fire. One woman and two men were led to safety wearing smoke hoods by fire crews wearing breathing apparatus. They were treated on scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service.
The fire was a very visible blaze and the Brigade's 999 Control room received 40 calls alerting them to the fire.
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 1823 and the incident was over by 1959. Fire crews from Tooting, Lambeth, Brixton, Chelsea and Hammersmith fire stations were in attendance.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.