A man was taken to hospital on Tuesday afternoon after firefighters pulled him from a burning flat on Shooters Hill Road in Blackheath.
Firefighters were called to the blaze at 3.21pm after the London Fire Brigade’s control room received the first of five separate 999 reports. Crews from fire stations at East Greenwich, Greenwich and Lee Green were mobilised to the south-east London street.
The fire had taken hold in a studio flat on the third floor of the block. Firefighters helped the man out of the building, and he was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.
A 32-metre turntable ladder was brought to the scene, giving the incident commander an aerial view of the building while crews worked to bring the flames under control. The fire was fully extinguished by 4.29pm, just over an hour after the first call came in.
The turnout saw appliances from three stations converge on Shooters Hill Road, an indication of how seriously the early reports were taken. Five calls landing in the control room in quick succession usually points to a fire that is visible from the street and developing quickly. Turntable ladders, which can reach roughly the height of a ten-storey building, are routinely deployed to flat and roof fires where commanders need an overview of the building and a high vantage point from which to direct water onto the seat of the fire.
No details about what caused the blaze had been released, and there was no further information about the man’s condition.
The fire broke out in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, where a landmark deal to build 3,000 new riverside homes at Charlton Riverside has recently been agreed.
It has been a busy week for the capital’s emergency services. A police watchdog has cleared officers over an e-bike crash on Eltham Hill that killed a 19-year-old rider, while in east London a man was arrested after a pensioner was left unconscious following a fight at Dagenham Heathway.
How to cut the risk of a flat fire
Flat fires can take hold with frightening speed, but the London Fire Brigade says a handful of simple steps can dramatically cut the risk — and buy precious time if the worst happens.
- Fit smoke alarms on every level of your home and test them once a month. A working alarm can give you the early warning you need to get out safely.
- Keep internal doors closed, especially overnight. A closed door can hold back flames and toxic smoke for up to 30 minutes.
- Never leave cooking unattended. Food left on the hob is one of the most common causes of fires in London flats — keep tea towels and clutter away from the heat, and avoid cooking if you have been drinking.
- Do not overload plug sockets, and switch appliances off when they are not in use. Charge phones and laptops on hard, flat surfaces rather than beds or sofas.
- Plan your escape route and keep it clear. Make sure everyone in the flat knows how to get out, and keep keys somewhere you can find them in the dark.
- If fire breaks out in your flat, get out, stay out and call 999. If the fire is elsewhere in a purpose-built block, the brigade’s advice is usually to stay put in your flat with doors and windows closed, unless smoke or heat starts to affect your home — and always call 999 for advice.
- Never use lifts during a fire, and keep balconies, hallways and stairwells free of bikes, rubbish and clutter that could fuel a fire or block an escape.
The brigade also offers a free online Home Fire Safety Checker to help Londoners spot risks in their own homes.
