Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled a flat fire on St John Street in Islington.
Half of a second-floor lobby and part of a second-floor flat were damaged by fire. A man and a woman were taken to hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation. Firefighters used fire escape hoods to lead a further seven people to safety who were all assessed on scene.
London firefighters were among the first in the UK to carry fire escape hoods when they were introduced in 2018 as part of improvements following the Grenfell Tower fire. The 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.
The Brigade’s Control Officers took the first of seven calls to the fire at 0617 and sent crews from Islington, Shoreditch, Euston, Soho, Dowgate and Whitechapel fire stations to the scene. The fire was under control by 0820.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.