Firefighters rescued two women from a fire at a block of flats on Fulham Palace Road in Fulham.
There was a small fire on a second-floor open balcony outside a flat. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used fire escape hoods to rescue two women. There were no reports of any injuries.
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 0218 and the fire was under control by 0259. Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters from Fulham and Hammersmith fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.