Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters attended a fire on Bedford Hill in Tooting.
Half of a flat on the fourth floor of a sheltered accommodation block was damaged by fire. One man was rescued by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus via an internal staircase. He was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service to be treated for smoke inhalation.
The Brigade was called at 1626 and Control Officers mobilised crews from Tooting, Clapham and Norbury fire stations to the scene. The fire was extinguished by 1831.
The fire is being treated as accidental and believed to have been caused by combustible items too close to a convection heater.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The rise in energy costs means there’s a very real risk of heating-related fires. We know that people will turn to alternative ways to keep themselves and those they live with warm overnight without turning on the heating, but we just want to make sure that people are staying safe at the same time.
“It’s absolutely vital that heaters are kept well away from curtains, furniture, paperwork and are never used to dry clothes. Always sit at least a metre away from the heater as it could set fire to your clothes or your chair, supervise children carefully and position a heater where it won’t be knocked over and away from pets.
"It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and ensure these items are safety registered and in good working order. If you’re using these items around children always supervise them carefully and place heaters somewhere where they won’t be accidentally knocked over and away from anything that could catch fire.
"Firefighters recommend that you have a look at our online Home Fire Safety Checker to make sure there are no hidden hazards in your home. The online tool will ask you a series of questions that will help us work out the level of risk in your home, or the home of someone you care for. It only takes a few minutes to get tailored advice to keep yourself and loved ones safe from fire.”