Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire on Aldrington Road, Streatham Park.
A ground floor flat, in a semi-detached property of three floors, was destroyed by fire. Firefighters deployed a 13.5m ladder to rescue three people trapped on the second floor by the fire. All three were treated on scene by the London Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation. A further two people who left the building before the Brigade arrived were also treated on scene for smoke inhalation.
A sixth resident left the building using a first floor window and was taken to hospital by paramedics due to ankle injuries sustained during their escape.
The Brigade was first called about the fire at 0141, and firefighters had the incident under control by 0307. Crews from Tooting, West Norwood, Norbury and surrounding fire stations attended the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Speaking after the incident, Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne said: “This was a complex incident, involving a property that had been converted into a number of separate flats across three floors. Firefighters worked hard to bring the incident under control, and in the process rescued three people who were trapped in a second floor flat by the fire. The professionalism and dedication shown by crews last night highlights the work all our firefighters and officers do to serve and protect London.
“I’d also like to thank our emergency service partners from the London Ambulance Service and Metropolitan Police Service for their support at the scene whilst we responded. The Brigade’s specialist fire investigators will now support our policing colleagues as we work to determine the cause of the fire.”