Twelve fire engines and 80 fire fighters were sent to tackle a blaze on the fourth floor of a block of flats.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) were called just before 4pm today (Monday, September 22) to reports of a fire in a high-rise block of flats, Holcroft House, in Ingrave Street, Battersea.

Ingrave Street, near Clapham Junction station 

Fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued 22 people, 12 adults and 10 children, in the block of flats. Two people were found unconscious.

A total of 21 people were treated by ambulance crews at the scene and ten were taken to hospital.

A spokesman for the London Ambulance Service said they sent three ambulance crews and their hazardous area response team (HART) to the scene.

Four flats were affected by the blaze. Most of one flat and half of a second flat were damaged by the fire. Part of a five roomed flat on the fifth floor also sustained some fire damage. 

Wandsworth Times:

Fire engines and fire fighters from Battersea, Fulham, Wandsworth, Clapham, Tooting, Paddington, Norbury, West Norwood, Brixton and Lambeth fire stations attended the incident.        

Station Manager Alan Lamb, who was at the scene, said: “Firefighters worked quickly to contain the fire and stop it from spreading further.      

Wandsworth Times:    

“Incidents like this show how important it is for high rise residents to know what to do in the event of a fire. 

"Flats and maisonettes are built to give you some protection from fire – a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 60. Walls, floors and doors will hold back flames and smoke for a time. If there is a fire elsewhere in the building but not inside your home you're usually safer staying in your flat unless heat or smoke is affecting you.         

Wandsworth Times:

“If you leave your flat you could be rushing into choking smoke, the fire itself or firefighters using equipment to bring the fire under control in another part of the building.”   

The fire was brought under control just after 5pm.

The Metropolitan Police helicopter also assisted.

A fire service spokeswoman said the cause was not yet known.

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