Firefighters are warning people not to leave their cooking unattended following a flat fire on Hither Green Lane in Hither Green early this morning.
A flat on the first floor of a three storey shop and flats property was badly damaged by the blaze.
Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers attended the scene.
London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
"When firefighters arrived they found a well developed fire which had caused a window to explode. A man was on the flat roof above the shop and fire crews quickly rescued him using a short extension ladder. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus then entered the property and rescued a man from the affected flat via an internal staircase. He was suffering from smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews."
Two more people had already left the property before the arrival of the Brigade. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, due to cooking left unattended.
The Brigade’s spokesperson added: “You should never leave cooking unattended – if you have to leave the room or the house, turn the heat off.
“There were smoke alarms in the flat that sounded. Everyone should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of their home and the safest option is to have those linked together. This will give the earliest warning if there is a fire in your home.”
The Brigade was called at 0130 and the fire was under control by 0242. Fire crews from Lewisham, Lee Green, Greenwich and Forest Hill fire stations attended the scene.