A woman was rescued from a building after a bonfire spread to nearby homes in South London
Two houses were destroyed after a fire, which left two people in A&E. Five fire engines and about 35 firefighters raced to the blaze on Fitzalan Street in Lambeth at about 7.25pm last night (Monday, September 7) and didn’t have it under control until 9.20pm.
A woman was rescued by crews wearing special breathing gear, and she and another man were taken to the hospital, after control rooms took 30 calls. Three garden sheds at the rear of two houses converted into flats were destroyed. A small part of a ground-floor flat was also damaged by fire and required crews from Dowgate, Soho, Old Kent Road, Lambeth and surrounding fire stations. The control room gave survival guidance to those at the incident on how to stay safe before firefighters arrived.
Two gas cylinders were involved in the fire, but were removed and cooled as some cylinders can explode when heated. The fire is thought to have been accidental after a bonfire spread out of control.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We would urge people to consider if their bonfire is necessary and to take care if you’re burning waste at home or at work. If you’re having a bonfire, never leave it unattended and consider your neighbours if you do decide to have a fire in your garden.
“Make sure you build it clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences and hedges and never use flammable liquids to start it or burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans.
“Always check your local authority’s advice on bonfires and follow our safety tips on our website.”
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