Flat destroyed and two hospitalised after Bromley fire

Four engines and 25 firefighters rushed to the scene on Widmore Road shortly after 9am, tackling the “well-developed” blaze as smoke billowed from the building.

An occupant of the second-floor flat was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation, having escaped before the brigade's arrival.

A man and woman on the floor above were rescued by ladder. Police reported that a second person was taken to hospital with “serious burns.”

A Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "A flat on the second floor and a balcony on the third floor of a five-storey block were destroyed by the fire.

"One man left the affected flat before the arrival of the Brigade and was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews suffering smoke inhalation.

"Firefighters rescued a man and a woman from the flat above via a ladder. They were assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

"Another woman was led to safety by crews using a fire escape hood. She was also assessed on scene.

"Control Officers also gave advice over the phone to reassure two people in another flat, who were unaffected by the fire."

The incident was brought under control by 10.30am.

A third individual was treated at the scene but fortunately did not require hospitalisation.

Police temporarily closed the surrounding area, including Widmore Road, Freelands Road and Southview.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. 

A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called at 9.05am today (11 February) to reports of an incident at a residential property on Homefield Road, Bromley.

"We sent a number of resources, including three ambulance crews, our hazardous area response teams, an advanced paramedic, and an incident response officer. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance, which sent a team by car.

"The first of our medics were at the scene in six minutes.

"Three people have been treated at the scene, and two have been taken to hospital as a priority."