Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire at a block of flats on Thurlow Street in Walworth.
Most of a corridor and a small part of two flats on the eighth floor of the ten storey building were damaged by the fire. Nine people were led to safety by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus using fire escape hoods. There are currently no reports of any injuries.
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.
One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as an observation tower to provide the Incident Commander with an aerial view of the fire.
Control Officers took the first of two calls at 0039 and mobilised crews from Old Kent Road, Peckham, Dockhead and surrounding fire stations to the scene. The fire was under control by 0222.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.