Last updated: 13/05/2024, 2:40 PM

Flat fire - South Kensington

01/03/2024 00:31
Kensington and Chelsea
House or flat fire
)

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled a fire at a terraced house converted into flats on Emperor's Gate in South Kensington.

The fire was located in a terraced five-storey building. A mansard roof and the third floor of the property were destroyed by the fire. The first and second floor were extensively damaged, and the ground floor was partly damaged in the incident.  

The Brigade’s 999 control officers gave vital fire survival guidance to members of the public before firefighters arrived at the scene. Around 15 people left the building where the fire started before the Brigade arrived. In total, around 160 people were evacuated from the property and surrounding buildings.

Two people were rescued by firefighters from a second floor flat using a 13.5 metre ladder, whilst two people were rescued from a fourth floor flat by crews using a turntable ladder. One person was rescued from a first floor flat by crews using a short extension ladder. Around 11 people were treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service. 

Three of the Brigade's 32 metre turntable ladders were used as water towers at the scene to help extinguish the fire. The drone team were also in attendance to help provide the Incident Commander with a better aerial view of the scene.

Station Commander Steve Collins, who was at the scene, he said: "The fire spread from the ground floor to the top floor and roof of the property. Crews worked extremely hard to contain it and prevent the blaze spreading to adjacent buildings. We remain at the scene dampening down hotspots.

Ben King, Borough Commander for Kensington & Chelsea, said: "People displaced from properties were taken to a local rest centre where they have been given support by our Community Engagement team, the local authority and other partners. Around 100 people have since been able to return to neighbouring properties.

"Road closures remain in place and emergency services are likely to remain at the scene throughout the day so we would ask people to continue to avoid the area."

The Brigade's 999 Control Officers received 14 calls about the fire. The Brigade was called at 0031 and the fire was under control by 0440. Fire crews from Kensington, Fulham, Battersea, Hammersmith, Chelsea, North Kensington and surrounding fire stations were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and Metropolitan Police.

You may also be interested in...