Responding to what proved to be a fatal blaze in Bromley took twice as long as normal when firefighters were on strike, an inquest was told.

Thomas Challis, 90, was killed when flames engulfed his flat in Lancaster Close on July 16, Croydon Coroner’s Court heard yesterday.

Union members at Bromley fire station staged a two-hour strike from 6am until 8am that day meaning London Fire Brigade was operating with stand-in crews when the fire broke out at around 7.15am.

Neighbour Stephany Cohen tried to rescue bed-bound Mr Challis but thick smoke from the fire blocked her path.

Two police officers, who were the first of the emergency services to arrive, also entered the building to try to save him but turned back after the fire’s heat became too intense.

The court heard a contingency fire crew waited outside for a more experienced team member to arrive to lead them inside wearing breathing apparatus.

Concerned when fire crews had at first not entered the building, PC Matthew Lockie approached the man in charge to warn him Mr Challis was still inside.

PC Lockie told the court the man had replied: “Let’s be realistic, we have probably lost him.”

Contingency fire service command support team leader Ian Humphrey told the court: “I may have said something along those lines. I may have said something like that to them.

“I did not believe there was a savable life inside the building.”

Mr Humphrey, who was first on the scene, told the court he arrived around 10 minutes after the initial 999 call was made.

He said: “If the fire brigade had not been on strike, they would have been there in four to five minutes but I’m not sure it would have made a difference in this case.”

Watch manager Mark Walton, who investigated the cause of the fire, told the court Mr Challis, who lived alone, was a pipe and cigar smoker.

He said Mr Challis could have accidentally started the fire after he dropped a lit match or smouldering tobacco from his pipe on to papers or tissues in his bedroom.

A post-mortem examination established the cause of death as smoke inhalation and extensive third-degree burns.

Coroner Selena Lynch recognised it would not have been possible for fire crews to save Mr Challis had there been no industrial action that day.

She told the court: “I am satisfied that there are no issues relating to the strike that are relevant to this death. It was a hopeless situation.

“Sadly Mr Challis wasn’t mobile. He was unable to save himself.”

She recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking after the verdict, London Fire Brigade’s head of fire investigation Charlie Pugsley said: “On behalf of London Fire Brigade I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mr Challis at this difficult time.”

He said the contingency fire service used during industrial action provides crews trained with basic firefighting capability and operates 27 appliances compared with 155 appliances available in normal circumstances.