Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters were called to a fire at a disused block of flats on Newcomen Street in Southwark.
Half of the ground floor, part of the first floor and the staircase (from the ground to the first floor) were destroyed by fire.
One person was rescued by ladder from the roof level of the three and four storey property. Two people were rescued by ladder from the second floor. Two people were rescued from the basement by crews wearing breathing apparatus using fire escape hoods. Five people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service.
London firefighters were among the first in the UK to carry fire escape hoods when they were introduced in 2018 as part of improvements following the Grenfell Tower fire. The 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's 999 Control centre operators received the first of around 10 calls alerting them to the fire at 0407 and gave vital fire survival guidance to those inside the building on how to stay safe before firefighters arrived.
The fire was brought under control by 0507. Fire crews from Dowgate, Whitechapel, Old Kent Road, Dockhead, Lambeth, Soho, Peckham and surrounding fire stations were at the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Metropolitan Police and the Brigade's fire investigation team.