Fire hoods needed to rescue people from terraced house

Two people were rescued from a house fire in Erith with the aid of escape hoods in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The London Fire Brigade was called to Manor Road shortly after 4am, and had the blaze under control an hour later.

Half of the ground floor of a two-storey mid-terraced house was damaged by the fire.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus got to the two adults, who were on the first floor of the property.

Another adult and two children were also rescued from the first floor via a ladder. They were all taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews suffering from smoke inhalation.

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.

Three fire engines and about 15 firefighters from Erith, Bexley and Plumstead fire stations attended. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Pictured top: A fire hood (Picture: London Fire Brigade)