Sydenham fire rescue as firefighters save elderly woman in flat blaze (From News Shopper)

Sydenham fire rescue as firefighters save elderly woman in flat blaze

9:54am Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News By Harry Kemble

AN ELDERLY woman from Sydenham was rescued from her flat by firefighters this morning.

Firefighters, who were called at 7.39am, used special breathing apparatus and a ladder to reach the woman in her first-floor flat in Homecroft Road.

The woman was suffering from smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Another elderly woman living in the ground-floor flat in the same building managed to break out of her home before emergency services arrived.

She was also treated for smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital too.

Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters from Beckenham, Woodside and Forest Hill attended the incident.

The fire was under control at 8.41am.

Including the two women, two men were also taken by ambulance for treatement after breathing in smoke.

Fire investigators are now trying to establish how the blaze started.