Mitcham: A woman was rescued by her neighbour after she was severely burnt in a fire which gutted a maisonette in Rowan Road, Mitcham, at 5am on Tuesday.

The woman, in her 20s, who suffered burns covering more than half her body, was taken to Mayday Hospital together with a man, also in his 20s, suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation.

She was moved to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital although it is not yet known if her injuries are life-threatening.

Police forensic teams and London Fire Brigade investigation teams were called to the scene in an effort to find out how the blaze began, although it is believed that it started in a first floor bedroom in the block which comprises six flats. Investigators are keeping an open mind at this stage of the inquiry.

Fire-fighters from Norbury, Mitcham and Tooting, including two wearing breathing apparatus, who attended what they called a "major blaze" smoke could be seen from half a mile away helped London Ambulance Service staff give first aid to the woman. Once stable she was taken to hospital.

Mitcham fire station commander Brendan McAllone said: "I could see the smoke when I opened my front door, it was like a thick mist, I knew exactly what had happened when I saw that.

"It was unbelievably hot in there and the fire then broke out in the hallway.

"The woman had already been rescued from the flat before we arrived."

Mr McAllone was uncertain if the flat had been fitted with a smoke alarm.

"We found a melted piece of plastic, if there wasn't one fitted in the flat then there would have been no early warning. My message is get one and maintain it."

The joint investigation is continuing.

July 11, 2002 11:30