Children among 14 people rescued from fire in Lewisham flats

Firefighters are making steady progress at a flat fire on Polecroft Lane in Lewisham. Around 14 people have been rescued from the four-storey building. London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade firefighters tackle the blaze at the south east London flats. Credit: Twitter / London Fire Brigade

Around fourteen people have been rescued from a fire in a four-storey building in Lewisham in the early hours of this morning, London Fire Brigade said.

Two people were rescued from neighbouring flats by firefighters, including two children escorted out from a staircase. All four were treated by ambulance crews at the scene.

Around 10 others were led to safety wearing smoke hoods – which provide protections from gases for up to 15 minutes – from the other floors.

According to the London Fire Brigade, the fire broke out in a ground floor flat in Polecroft Lane.

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were called to the fire at 3.56am on Friday.

Station commander Sam Woodhams said: “Crews are working extremely hard to bring the fire under control and are making steady progress.

“Firefighters are likely to remain at the scene for the next few hours.”

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

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