Two children and three women rescued from fire in 21 storey block

Two children and three women have been rescued from a fire in a 21 storey block of flats.

At around 4am this morning eight fire engines and around 80 firefighters were called to a fire at a block of flats on Surrey Lane in Battersea.

Half of a flat on the 16th floor was destroyed by a blaze. Fire crews, wearing breathing apparatus, rescued one woman and one child from the 16th floor. They were treated for smoke inhalation on scene by London Ambulance Service.

Another two women and one child were rescued from the 20th floor by crews wearing breathing apparatus. 

The London Fire Brigade was called at around 4am, its 999 Control officers gave fire survival guidance to residents in flats on the 16th and 20th floors while fire crews arrived at the scene. By around 5am, the fire was under control. 

Fire escape hoods were used to lead one woman and one child to safety. Fire escape hoods provide up to 15 minutes of protection from four of the main fire gases and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people.

Fire crews from Battersea, Chelsea, Clapham, Fulham, Wandsworth and Lambeth fire stations attended the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Pictured top: London Fire Brigade at the scene of the fire in Battersea (Picture: London Fire Brigade)