Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters have been tackling a house fire on Renshaw Close in Catford.
The first floor and loft conversion of the house was destroyed by fire. One woman was rescued from the roof of the property by firefighters via a nine-metre ladder. Two further people left the property before firefighters arrived. They have all been taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
A road closure remains in place on Ravensbourne Park but rail services at nearby Catford Station have been unaffected by this particular incident.
Station Commander Mike Watts, who has been at the scene, said: “Firefighters rescued a woman who had escaped onto the roof of the property.
“She had begun to slip from the pitched roof of the property and was prevented from falling by a firefighter on a ladder. A second ladder was erected by firefighters to assist bringing the firefighter and the woman safely down. The woman has been taken to hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation.
“Two further people who were inside the property at the time of the fire have also been taken to hospital; one of whom is believed to have sustained serious injuries.
“Firefighters remain on the scene damping down and our fire investigation unit is also on scene in order to determine the cause of this fire.
“We advise people to avoid the area whilst the incident remains ongoing.”
The Brigade’s Control Officers received more than 20 calls about the fire.
The Brigade was called at 0731 and Control Officers mobilised crews from New Cross, Beckenham, Greenwich, Lee Green and surrounding fire stations to the scene. The fire was brought under control by 0939.
The fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by the failure of a lithium ion battery.
Heat: It’s normal for batteries to generate some heat when charging or in use. However if your device’s battery feels extremely hot to the touch, there’s chance it’s defective and may start a fire
Bulging: A battery bulging or swelling out of shape is a common sign of it failing. If your battery looks swollen, you should stop using it immediately. Similar signs include any type of lump or leaking from the device
Noise: Failing lithium batteries have also been reported to make hissing or cracking sounds
Smell: If you notice a strong or unusual smell coming from the battery, this could also be a sign of it failing
Performance: A failure to fully charge or an excessively longer charge times can be a sign that your battery is failing
Smoke: If your battery or device is smoking, a fire has already started and you should get out, raise the alarm and call 999