The London Bulletin

[The Wise Old Owl]

MONDAY 22 NOVEMBER

Northolt - three people rescued
A family were rescued by firefighters using breathing apparatus after a blaze broke out in a two storey maisonette on Rectory Park Avenue in Northolt this morning. A man, a woman and a baby were helped to safety by fire crews using an internal staircase after they became trapped by thick smoke. All three were treated at the scene by paramedics.
The blaze destroyed a small amount of the entrance hall and fire investigation officers are working with police to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 0102 and the fire was under control by 0120. A crews from Southall fire station attended the incident.

Fulham - roof blaze
Around twenty firefighters tackled a roof blaze on Wandsworth Bridge Road in Fulham on Sunday afternoon. The fire destroyed around half of the roof and part of the first floor of the terraced house which was empty at the time. Fire investigation officers are looking into the cause of the blaze which is believed to have started accidentally.
The Brigade was called at 1429 and the fire was under control by 1517. Crews from Fulham and Wandsworth fire stations attended the incident.

Dagenham - man rescued
A man was rescued by firefighters after a blaze broke out in a house on New Road in Dagenham on Sunday morning. The fire started on the ground floor of the two-storey terraced house trapping the 47-year-old man on the first floor. He was helped to safety from a window by fire crews using a ladder and was later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
The blaze destroyed around ten per cent of the ground floor and caused smoke damage throughout the rest of the property. Crews from Dagenham and East Ham fire stations attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

Hornsey - garage blaze
Around twenty firefighters saved ten classic cars from being destroyed after a fire broke out in a garage on Cross Lane in Hornsey yesterday morning. The blaze started in a paint spraying unit where workers attempted to extinguish the fire before leaving the garage. Fire crews worked quickly to prevent the fire spreading to a classic car collection inside the garage. The blaze destroyed the paint spraying unit as well as a small section of the ground floor. Fire investigation officers believe that the blaze may have been caused by an electrical fault.
The Brigade was called at 0928 and the fire was under control by 0954. Crews from Hornsey fire station attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER

Sutton - flat blaze
Firefighters were called to a fierce blaze which badly damaged flats above a shop on Wrythe Lane in Sutton this morning. One man was rescued by ladder from the second floor and a second man was assisted from the rear of the building by members of the public, before the Brigade arrived. The cause of the fire is being investigated. Fire officers at the scene said that in this case a working smoke alarm would have given early warning of the fire. These incidents highlight the importance of fitting and regularly checking smoke alarms.

The Brigade was called at 0651. Fire crews from Sutton (Due to gain a pump under the London Safety Plan) and Mitcham attended the incident.

Southall - warehouse fire
Around thirty Firefighters were called to a fire at a warehouse on Rubastic Road in Southall earlier this morning. A small fire has been contained on the ground floor of the two storey building. The fire has created heavy smoke in the area and traffic disruption is expected this morning. Fire crews will remain at the scene making the area safe.

The Brigade was called at 0533.

THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER

Dalston - man rescued from house fire
Two men were lucky to escape from a fire which damaged the ground floor of a three storey house on Cromer Terrace in Dalston yesterday morning. The men were asleep when the fire started and woke up when they smelt smoke. One man managed to get out through a window on the first floor, the other became trapped by heavy smoke and had to be rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. A smoke alarm had been fitted on the second floor of the building, but the batteries were flat. Fire officers at the scene were reminding people to make sure that smoke alarms are fitted with working batteries. The man rescued was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the police.

The Brigade was called at 1043 and the fire was under control 1122. Fire crews from Kingsland and Shoreditch fire stations attended the incident.

TUESDAY 23 NOVEMBER

Hornsey - garage blaze
Around twenty firefighters saved ten classic cars from being destroyed after a fire broke out in a garage on Cross Lane in Hornsey yesterday morning. The blaze started in a paint spraying unit where workers attempted to extinguish the fire before leaving the garage. Fire crews worked quickly to prevent the fire spreading to a classic car collection inside the garage. The blaze destroyed the paint spraying unit as well as a small section of the ground floor. Fire investigation officers believe that the blaze may have been caused by an electrical fault.
The Brigade was called at 0928 and the fire was under control by 0954. Crews from Hornsey fire station attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

05:33
25th G24 SOUTHALL 6 PUMP FIRE INC 170958041
DELICE DE FRANCE, RUBASTIC ROAD, SOUTHALL.
A RANGE OF BUILDINGS, OFFICES AND REFRIGERATION PLANT, 110 METRES X 90 METRES.
AN INTERNAL REFRIGERATION CHAMBER, 60 METRES X 30 METRES, 50 PERCENT DAMAGED BY FIRE.
2 JETS, 2 HOSEREELS, BREATHING APPARATUS, THERMAL IMAGE CAMERA, 3 SMOKE EXTRACTORS.
28 PEOPLE EVACUATED BEFORE ARRIVAL OF BRIGADE.

06:51
25th H38 SUTTON (Due to gain a pump under the London Safety Plan) 6 PUMP FIRE PERSONS RPTD INC 170979041
44 THE MARKET, ROSE HILL, CARSHALTON.
A RANGE OF SHOPS AND DWELLINGS OF 3 FLOORS, 20 METRES X 15 METRES.
100 PERCENT OF SECOND FLOOR DAMAGED BY FIRE, WHOLE OF ROOF OFF.
4 JETS, 2 HOSEREELS, BREATHING APPARATUS, ALP, THERMAL IMAGE CAMERA.
1 MALE ASSISTED DOWN INTERNAL STAIRCASE BY MEMBER OF PUBLIC.
ALL PERSONS ACCOUNTED FOR.

07:16
25th G56 HEATHROW 4 PUMP FIRE PERSONS RPTD INC 171004041
THISTLE LONDON HEATHROW, BATH ROAD, LONGFORD.
HOTEL OF 2 FLOORS, 50 METRES X 50 METRES WITH 314 ROOMS.
20 PERCENT OF FIRST FLOOR DAMAGED BY FIRE.
HOSEREEL, BREATHING APPARATUS, THERMAL IMAGE CAMERA.
237 PEOPLE EVACUATED.
ALL PERSONS ACCOUNTED FOR.

10:45
A30 ISLINGTON 4 PUMP FIRE INC 171119041
CORSICA STREET, N5.
CTRL INTERVENTION POINT OF 8 SUB LEVELS.
SMALL FIRE AT LEVEL 5.
1 HOSEREEL, BREATHING APPARATUS, THERMAL IMAGE CAMERA.
(Scheduled to lose its pump under the Draft London Safety plan)

20:19
F29 LEYTON (Due to gain a pump under the London Safety Plan) 4 PUMP FIRE INC 171431041
J & R MEERS, OVERTON ROAD, E10
A DERELICT FURNITURE WAREHOUSE OF 1 & 2 FLOORS, 30 METRES X 100 METRES.
20 PERCENT DAMAGED BY FIRE.
1 JET, 2 HOSEREELS.

21:33 E41 ORPINGTON 4 PUMP FIRE INC 171474041
70 NORTHLANDS AVENUE, ORPINGTON, KENT BR6
A SEMI-DETACHED BUNGALOW, 5 METRES X 8 METRES. 80 PERCENT OF GROUND FLOOR AND ROOF DAMAGED BY FIRE.
2 JETS, 2 HOSEREELS, BREATHING APPARATUS, THERMAL IMAGE CAMERA.

[The Wise Old Owl]

MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER

Plumstead - cylinder fire
Firefighters were called to a blaze at a scrap yard on Kings Highway in Plumstead in the early hours of this morning. One caravan and two cars were completely damaged by fire. 100 people from nearby houses were evacuated because fire crews discovered gas cylinders in the blaze and some gas cylinders can explode when heated. Fire crews will remain at the scene today to make sure the area is safe. The cause of the fire will be investigated.

The Brigade was called at 0227.

Woodside - shop fire
Fire gutted a shop on Lower Addiscombe Road in Croydon yesterday morning. A man, woman and child managed to get out of flats behind the shop before the brigade arrived. The fire is thought to have been caused by a faulty cooking appliance. Fire crews wore breathing apparatus to bring the blaze under control and stop it from spreading to the adjoining building.

The Brigade was called at 1047 and the fire was under control 1131. Fire crews from Woodside, Croydon and Beckenham fire stations attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

TUESDAY 30 NOVEMBER

Dalston - fire at disused lido
Firefighters fought a fire in the changing rooms of a disused lido on Richmond Road in Dalston yesterday. Nobody was in the building when the brigade arrived, the cause of the fire is being investigated. The changing rooms were badly damaged.

The Brigade was called at 1445 and the fire was under control by 1536. Fire crews from Homerton and Bethnal Green (Scheduled to lose its pump under the Draft London Safety plan) fire stations attended the incident.

Essex - warehouse fire
Fire damaged a range of portable buildings in an industrial estate on Ferry Lane, Rainham in Essex last night. Around twenty firefighters were needed to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The Brigade was called at 18.13 and the fire was under control by 1855. Fire crews from Wennington, Romford and Hornchurch fire stations.

[The Wise Old Owl]

WEDNESDAY 8 DECEMBER

Kingsbury - workshop blaze
Firefighters are still at the scene of a fire in a car repair workshop on Kingsbury Road in Kingsbury. The blaze started last night on the ground floor of the three storey building causing an acetylene cylinder to overheat. Some cylinders can explode when exposed to very high temperatures, and a result work is continuing to make the cylinder cool so that it can be removed from the site. The fire destroyed a small area of the ground floor.
The Brigade was called at 2059 and crews expect to remain at the scene until later this evening.

Hackney - man rescued
A man was rescued by firefighters following a flat fire on South Park Road in Hackney yesterday afternoon. The blaze started on the ground floor of the three storey house quickly spreading smoke throughout the property. The man was carried to safety by firefighters using breathing apparatus after being overcome by smoke, and was later taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. The blaze destroyed around half of the ground floor and fire investigation officers are working with police to determine the exact cause of the fire.
The Brigade was called at 1546 and the fire was under control by 1630. A crew from Homerton fire station attended the incident.

Plaistow - house fire
A man escaped from a house fire on North Street in Plaistow this morning. The blaze started on the first floor of the two storey house where the man was asleep. He managed to leave the house before the arrival of the Brigade and was taken to hospital suffering from shock. The fire destroyed around a quarter of the first floor and fire investigation officers are currently working with police to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 0120 and the fire was under control by 0205. Crews from Plaistow and Stratford fire stations attended the incident.

TUESDAY 7 DECEMBER

Cricklewood - two people escape blaze
Two people were helped to safety from a flat after a rubbish fire went out of control in Chapter Road in Cricklewood this morning. The couple were woken after hearing the fire break the windows of a downstairs flat which was under refurbishment. Firefighters using breathing apparatus helped the couple to safety using the internal staircase. Both were treated at the scene for minor smoke inhalation.
The Brigade was called at 0147 and the fire was under control by 0206. A crew from Willesden fire station attended the incident.

Maida Vale - flat fire
A candle is believed to have started a flat fire in which a man was helped to safety in Hormead Road in Maida Vale last night. The 45 year old man was assisted from his first floor flat by firefighters using breathing apparatus after becoming trapped by thick smoke. He was taken to hospital suffering from burns and smoke inhalation. The blaze destroyed around a quarter of the first floor flat.
When using candles, people are reminded to place them on a flat surface like a ceramic plate, and keep them away from draughts and anything that could catch fire such as curtains and furniture.
The Brigade was called at 2154 and the fire was under control by 2234. A crew from North Kensington fire station attended the incident.

Edgware - house fire
Around twenty firefighters tackled a blaze on Millais Gardens in Edgware yesterday afternoon. The fire started on the ground floor of the two storey house which was empty at the time. The blaze destroyed the entire ground floor as well as half of the first floor. Fire investigation officers are currently working to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 1532 and the fire was under control by 1603. Crews from Stanmore and Harrow attended the incident.

MONDAY 6 DECEMBER

Hayes - house fire
Around twenty firefighters tackled a house blaze on Friday afternoon on Hitherbroom Road in Hayes. The fire destroyed eighty per cent of the ground floor and half of the first floor. The two storey house was empty at the time of the incident, and fire investigation officers are currently looking into the cause of the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 1307 and the fire was under control by 1337. Crews from Southall and Hayes attended the incident.

Enfield - two escape house blaze
Two people and five dogs escaped from a house fire on Albany Park Avenue in Enfield on Saturday morning. The blaze started on the ground floor of the two storey house where the man and woman were asleep upstairs. The couple were woken by the smell of smoke and managed to leave the house with their pets before the arrival of the Brigade. The man was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. The blaze destroyed almost all of the ground floor and fire investigation officers are currently looking into the cause of the fire.

Catford - pub blaze
Around thirty people were evacuated from a function suite following a pub fire on Bromley Road in Catford on Sunday morning. The blaze started in the ground floor bar of the four storey pub. Around thirty people were evacuated from a first floor function room, and a further two adults and three children living above the pub left before the arrival of the Brigade. Three people were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and fire investigation officers are working with police to determine the exact cause of the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 0113 and the fire was under control by 0230. A crew from Downham fire station attended the incident.

FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER

Stepney - shop blaze
Around twenty firefighters fought a blaze which gutted a small shop on Aston Street in Stepney this morning. Fire crews found propane gas cylinders in the building, which were cooled and made safe. A family living in a flat next to the shop were evacuated as a precautionary measure, because some gas cylinders can explode when heated. The cause of the fire is not yet known and will be investigated.

The Brigade was called at 0331 and the fire was under control by 0538. Crews from Poplar fire station attended the incident.

THURSDAY 2 DECEMBER

Enfield - car repair workshop
Around forty firefighters were needed at a blaze which gutted a car repair workshop on an industrial estate on Rivermead Road in Enfield this morning. Fire crews quickly confirmed that gas cylinders were involved at the incident and immediately cordoned off the area for safety because some gas cylinders can explode when heated. The exclusion zone will remain in place for a twenty four hour period to ensure the area is safe. The cause of the fire will be investigated.

The Brigade was called at 0328. Crews from Edmonton, Tottenham, Walthamstow (Due to gain a pump under the London Safety Plan) and Hornsey attended the incident.

Marylebone - flat fire
Firefighters were called to a fire at a third floor flat on Balcombe Street in Marylebone this morning. Six people left the building before the brigade arrived. Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus managed to confine the blaze to a single room. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The Brigade was called at 0224 and the fire was under control 0244. Crews from Manchester Square (scheduled to close with the loss of both appliances under the 'London Safety Plan') and Paddington fire stations attended the incident.

Hayes - woman and children escape blaze
A woman and her two children were lucky to escape a blaze which badly damaged a maisonette on Park Lane in Hayes in the early hours of this morning. The fire is thought to have been started by a cooker that had been left on in the kitchen. Fire officers at the scene confirmed that the maisonette had not been fitted with a smoke alarm, which could have raised the alarm much earlier and helped to prevent the amount of damage caused.

The Brigade was called at 0108 and the fire was under control by 0216. Crews from Hillingon (Due to gain a pump under the London Safety Plan) and Southall fire stations attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

MONDAY 13 DECEMBER

Lower Edmonton - pub blaze
Around twenty firefighters using breathing apparatus and thermal imaging equipment tackled a fire in a disused pub on Fore Street in Edmonton last night. A man left the building before the Brigade arrived. The blaze destroyed around a quarter of the ground floor of the three storey building and fire investigation officers are currently looking into the cause of the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 1941 and the fire was under control by 2054. Crews from Edmonton and Tottenham fire station attended the incident. You may be interested to learn that an ALP was originally requested for this incident but none were available. When the OiC was asked if an HP would do, the answer was to cancel the request. This has to be seen in the light of the fairly recent reduction in the numbers of aerial appliances.

Canning Town - flat fire
A man was rescued by firefighters following a flat fire on Colman Road in Canning Town on Sunday morning. Crews were forced to break down the front door of the ground floor flat after neighbours reported seeing smoke coming from the windows. Firefighters found a middle aged man unconscious inside the flat and carried him to safety.The fire destroyed a small area of the ground floor flat, and fire investigation officers believe that the fire started accidentally.
The Brigade was called at 0430 and the fire was under control by 0447. A crew from Plaistow fire station attended the incident.

South Norwood - four people rescued
Four people were rescued on Friday night after a fire broke out in a ninth floor flat on Grosvenor Road in South Norwood. The three adults and a baby were helped to safety by fire crews using an internal staircase and were taken to hospital suffering from shock and smoke inhalation. The blaze destroyed around a quarter of the flat and fire investigation officers are currently looking into the cause of the fire.
The Brigade was called at 2233 and the fire was under control by 2328. A crew from Woodside fire station attended the incident.

FRIDAY 10 DECEMBER

Chelsea - restaurant fire
Firefighters managed to stop a small fire from spreading at a restaurant on the Kings Road in Chelsea last night. The fire, which is thought to have been started accidentally was confined to a storeroom in the building. A member of staff noticed smoke coming from the room and raised the alarm. The building had been evacuated by the time the brigade arrived. Fire investigation officers found that some of the smoke alarms in the restaurant had been unintentionally obscured by Christmas decorations and were reminding both businesses and people at home that smoke alarms should never be blocked from detecting smoke.

The Brigade was called at 2349 and the fire was under control by 0047. Fire crews from Chelsea fire station attended the incident.

Bermondsey - building collapse
Fire crews worked quickly to get five people out of a building on Alice Street in Bermondsey, just hours before half of it collapsed. Firefighters arrived at the scene after receiving a call from a worried resident who had noticed a large crack appear in the side of the three storey building. Fire crews called an emergency building surveyor, closed the road to traffic with police assistance and kept the area safe.

The Brigade was called at 2348. A fire crew from Old Kent Road fire station attended the incident.

Erith - industrial estate blaze
Around twenty five firefighters were called to a blaze which damaged a range of scrap motor vehicles held at an industrial estate on Maypole Crescent in Erith last night. The cause of the fire is being investigated.

The Brigade was called at 1936 and the fire was under control by 2243. Fire crews from Erith, Bexley and Beckenham fire stations attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

TUESDAY 14 DECEMBER

Marylebone - garage blaze
Around twenty firefighters using breathing apparatus and thermal imaging equipment tackled a garage fire on Knox Road in Marylebone this morning. The blaze started on the ground floor of the three storey building which was empty at the time. Around a quarter of the ground floor was damaged by the blaze and fire investigation officers are currently looking into the cause of the fire.
The Brigade was called at 0115 and the fire was under control by 0209. Crews from Paddington and Manchester Square (Scheduled to close under the Draft London Safety Plan) fire stations attended the incident.

MONDAY 13 DECEMBER

Notting Hill - man rescued from flat fire
An unattended chip pan is believed to have caused a fire in a block of flats on Princedale Road in Notting Hill this morning. The blaze started in a top floor flat of the six storey block where an older man became trapped by thick smoke. Crews using breathing apparatus led him to safety down the internal staircase and he was taken to hospital suffering from minor burns and smoke inhalation. A further thirty people managed to leave the building safely.
People are reminded never to leave pans unattended when cooking - even for a few seconds.
The blaze destroyed around half of the sixth floor flat. The Brigade was called at 0101 and the fire was under control by 0156. Crews from North Kensington and Kensington (Scheduled to lose its pump under the Draft London Safety plan) fire stations attended the incident.

[The Wise Old Owl]

Golders Green - woman rescued
Fire crews rescued a woman from the first floor of a two storey house on the Ridgeway in Golders Green this morning. The fire is thought to have started in a cupboard under a stairway and spread into a hall area. Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus were able to stop the fire from spreading to the rest of the house. The house was not fitted with a smoke alarm, a fire officer at the scene said that the woman would have been alerted to the fire much earlier if a working smoke alarm had been present.

The Brigade was called at 0445 and the fire was under control by 0523. Fire crews from West Hampstead fire station attended the incident.

Belgravia - flat fire
Firefighters rescued an older man from a fire which damaged a ground floor flat on Saint Ann Close in Belgravia in the early hours of this morning. The fire is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault with a refrigerator in the kitchen. Fire crews wore breathing apparatus to rescue the man and help two other people out of a flat on the second floor. Fire officers at the scene confirmed that the flat had not been fitted with a smoke alarm, which could have raised the alarm much earlier.

The Brigade was called at 0039 and the fire was under control by 0136. Fire crews from Knightsbridge (Scheduled to lose its pump under the Draft London Safety plan) and Chelsea fire stations attended the incident.