NEW pictures have emerged of yesterday’s fire in Chislehurst which destroyed several flats.
Forty firefighters battled the fire in Hatton Court, Lubbock Road, from around 10am.
The roof and part of the second floor were destroyed in the blaze which raged for more than four hours.
Fire crews evacuated the building, which is believed to be made up of 12 flats, and three people were treated for smoke inhalation before being taken to hospital.
Pierre Davis was caught up in the drama after dropping his son off at nearby Coopers Technology College in Hawkwood Lane.
The 36-year-old was on his way back to his home in Worsley Bridge Road, Beckenham, when he was blocked by fire engines and firefighters frantically hunting for a water supply.
He said: “The fireman couldn’t find a hydrant and when they did they couldn’t get any water pressure.
“They weren’t pouring water on the fire for around 20 or 25 minutes. That was a problem for them.
“I watched as the flames spread from the left of the building to right. The wind was blowing in the wrong direction and seemed to help the fire spread.”
He added: “The street was completely full of smoke.”
Ambulance crews took a 33-year-old woman to Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, and a woman and a boy to Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough.
The fire was dealt with by firefighters from Bromley, Eltham, Downham, Sidcup, Erith and Forest Hill.
London Ambulance Service also sent four ambulances to the scene.
Mr Davis managed to take a series of pictures as the drama unfolded.
He explained: “I saw the roof collapse and there were people outside crying because they had lost everything.
“One woman had only popped out to the local shops and had come back to find her flat completely ruined.
“I was told a computer had caused the fire.
“Most of the people who owned the flats were at work.”
The cause of the fire is now under investigation.
Bromley fire station manager Terry Gooding said: “The crews worked really well to contain the blaze.
“We urge all Londoners to visit our website - www.london-fire.gov.uk - to find out more about what to do in the event of fire and ways of preventing it from occurring in the first place.”
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