Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a fire at a flat on Heybourne Crescent in Colindale.
Part of a five-roomed flat on the second floor of a six-storey building was damaged by fire. A woman was led to safety by crews wearing breathing apparatus. A man was rescued from a neighbouring flat by breathing apparatus crews using a fire escape hood via an internal staircase. He was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews for smoke inhalation. A further man from another flat was also led to safety by breathing apparatus crews suffering from smoke inhalation.
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 1401 and the fire was under control by 1506. Crews from Hendon, Stanmore, Finchley, West Hampstead and Islington fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and Metropolitan Police.