Norwood block blaze sees six taken to hospital

Six people rescued from a fire in a block of flats in Upper Norwood were taken to hospital after half of its first floor was badly damaged.

Eight fire engines and about 60 firefighters were called to tackle the blaze in Church Road in the early hours of this morning.

The six people were escorted from the lower ground floor of the building by Met police officers and firefighters rescued 10 people from the first and second floors using two ladders.

Station officer Dean Juckes, the initial incident commander, said: “Upon arriving at the scene, we found multiple people who required rescue from the first and second floors of the building. Working incredibly hard in challenging conditions, firefighters used ladders to bring 10 people to safety.

“Additionally, crews worked closely with the brigade’s control officers, who provided critical, lifesaving fire survival guidance to those still inside the building awaiting rescue.

“It is a testament to the hard work of crews and control officers that there was no loss of life or serious injury at this incident.”

One of the brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as an observation tower to help fight the fire from above.

Control officers took the first of six calls shortly after 3.30am and delivered fire survival guidance to people who were in the building before they were rescued.

Crews were mobilised from West Norwood, Woodside, Norbury and surrounding fire stations to the scene. Firefighters had the fire under control by around 5.15am.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the brigade and the Met.

Pictured top: Crews in action in Church Road this morning (Picture: LFB)