Firefighters rescue woman and child from Greenwich flat fire

Both women were in the flat next door to where the fire started and were unable to leave their flat due to the dangerous volume of smoke.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus fitted both the woman and child with fire escape hoods and led them to safety.

They were both assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews but were not taken to hospital.

Fire escape hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people.

If more than 15 minutes protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer. They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier.

Part of a fifth floor flat was damaged by fire and approximately 50 other people left the building before the arrival of the Brigade.

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from East Greenwich, Greenwich, Deptford, Lewisham and Poplar fire stations attended the scene.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.