RAGING INFERNO
South Kensington fire: Eleven hurt and rushed to hospital after massive blaze breaks out at home
Crews were forced to pull residents to safety through windows as the fire spread
ELEVEN people were rushed to hospital in the early hours of this morning after a massive blaze broke out in a terraced house.
The inferno broke out in London's South Kensington just after midnight, with 130 people forced to evacuate.
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Videos showed flames leaping from the top storey of the home, while crews battled to extinguish the blaze.
Smoke could be seen pouring into the sky while about 100 firefighters surrounded the scene.
Eleven people were then rushed to hospital with possible smoke inhalation.
Crews were forced to pull residents to safety through their windows as the fire spread.
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One local, who gave his name as Richard, told The Sun: “It was a really intense heat coming off the fire and that made it quite uncomfortable to be around.
“When the fire service were called I think it was just a small fire but obviously with the scale of response it was far bigger.”
Witness Julia Adelina added: “Nobody slept last night because of the smoke.
“I was trying to get to sleep and my kids came in and said ‘Mummy, what’s the smell’.
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“It’s terrible because you just don’t feel safe in your own home.”
And another local in the building opposite the blaze said: “The fire started on the ground floor and they very quickly put it out.
“But then it almost had a resurgence and shot upwards and out to the back of the building.
“There were people on the top floors calling for help and when they got down they looked terrified by what had happened.
“There have been a couple of fires around here but this is by far the worst one.”
London Fire Brigade said: "Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were called to a fire at a terraced house converted into flats on Emperor's Gate in South Kensington.
"Half of the ground floor of the five-storey building was alight.
"Around 15 people left the building where the fire started before the Brigade arrived.
"In total around 130 residents were evacuated from the property where the fire started as well as the neighbouring buildings.
"Two people were rescued by crews from a second-floor flat using a 13.5-metre ladder, two people were rescued from a fourth-floor flat by crews using a turntable ladder.
"One person was rescued from a first-floor flat by crews using a short extension ladder.
"Around 11 people were treated for smoke inhalation and taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service."
Station Commander Steve Collins was at the scene, he said: "The fire spread from the ground floor to the top floor and roof of the property.
"Crews worked extremely hard to contain it and prevent the blaze spreading to adjacent buildings.
"Road closures are in place and likely to remain well into the morning rush hour so motorists are advised to avoid the area.
"However, there is no impact on rail services and they will be running as normal."
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The Brigade was called just after midnight, and the fire was under control by 4.30am.
The cause of the fire is still being probed.
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