Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a flat fire on Sun Court in Erith.
A flat on the second floor of a residential block was destroyed by fire. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued 29 people from the building via an internal staircase. Eight of those were rescued using fire escape hoods. A further two people were rescued from the second floor via a nine-metre ladder. Three people were taken to hospital.
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's 999 Control Officers took 17 calls to the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 0920 and the fire was under control by 1133. Fire crews from Bexley, Plumstead, East Greenwich, Lee Green, Erith and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.