Firefighters have rescued two people from a raging flat fire in Thamesmead this morning, with one woman taken to hospital.

London Fire Brigade said they were called to Booth Close at around 00:05 on May 13, and were faced with smoke pouring out of the ground floor, whilst a woman was stuck at the window of the second floor.

Fighting through thick smoke, firefighters rescued two people from the building, and the woman was taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.

Her condition is not known, but it is believed there are no severe injuries.

Station Officer Matthew Cole, who was at the scene, said: “On arrival crews were faced with smoke coming from a vent on the ground floor of the building and we saw a woman at a window on the second floor.

Booth Close, Thamesmead

Booth Close, Thamesmead

“Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus quickly made their way into the building and found a man on the first floor, who was rescued via an internal staircase using a fire escape hood."

He continued: “Crews pitched a 9-metre ladder to the second-floor window and rescued a woman who was then taken to hospital.

“Crews worked incredibly hard in poor visibility to bring the fire under control and rescue two people inside the building."

Four fire engines and 25 firefighters attended, and the blaze was under control by 1:46am.

Part of the ground floor of the mid-terraced house, which had been converted into flats, was damaged in the fire, fire investigators believe the cause of the fire to be unsafe disposal of smoking materials.

Mr Cole added: “This was a good use of fire escape hoods, which can 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.”

Safety advice for smokers:

  • It's safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
  • Never smoke in bed, and avoid smoking on arm chairs and sofas – especially if you think you might fall asleep.
  • Use proper ashtrays, which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly.
  • Always empty ashtrays carefully. Make sure smoking materials are out, cold and preferably wet them before throwing into a bin – never use a wastepaper basket.