Six rescued from flat fire in Mitcham

They were rescued from the fourth floor of a block of flats in Talbot Close when the fire broke out at around 1am on December 16.

The six were assessed on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in a laptop that was on a bed.

Part of a four-roomed flat on the first floor was damaged by the fire.

The brigade was called at 12.56am and the fire was under control by 2.25am.

The firemen were wearing breathing equipment and took the internal staircase route - using fire escape hoods.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Norbury, Mitcham, Croydon and Wimbledon fire stations attended the scene.

Sub Officer Joseph Wood, who was at the scene, said: “There was a lot of smoke and people were gathering outside the building on arrival.

“We could see people on the fourth floor of the building calling to us from a window and crews gained access quickly to bring them out of the building using fire escape hoods.

“The residents had placed a damp towel under the door, which prevented smoke from entering their flat and thankfully, none of them were injured.”

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Firefighters rescued six people from a flat fire on Talbot Close in Mitcham.

"Part of a four-roomed flat on the first floor of a block of flats was damaged by fire.

"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued six people from the fourth floor via an internal staircase using fire escape hoods.

"They were assessed on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

"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.

"The fire is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault in a laptop that was on a bed.

"The Brigade was called at 0056 and the fire was under control by 0225. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Norbury, Mitcham, Croydon and Wimbledon fire stations attended the scene."

Firefighter’s electrical safety tips

- Never cover chargers or charging devices – that includes using your laptop power lead in bed

- Electrical devices should always be charged on hard flat surfaces where heat can dissipate, and you should also make sure you unplug your charger once it’s finished charging.

- You should always turn your laptop off when you’ve finished using it, and don’t leave it on a surface that could catch fire, like a bed or a chair.