Dozens evacuated from fire in Orchard Grove block of flats

A three-storey block of flats in Penge had to be evacuated due to a fire in the early hours of this morning.

Wake up call: 70 firefighters attended the flat fire in Orchard Grove

Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled a fire on Orchard Grove in Penge.

A second-floor flat in a three-storey block was destroyed and half of a first-floor flat was damaged by fire. Just over half of the building’s roof was also damaged.

One woman was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews. Sixteen other people left the building before firefighters arrived and a further three people evacuated following advice from the Brigade’s 999 Control Officers.

One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used an observation tower, helping give the incident commander a better view of the fire.

The Brigade’s drone team also assisted by providing an aerial view of the incident.

The Brigade was called at 2.22am and the fire was brought under control by 4.07am.

Crews from Beckenham, West Norwood, Woodside, Forest Hill and surrounding fire stations have been at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.


Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details


  • If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
  • As featured on Google News Showcase
  • ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine

About insidecroydon

News, views and analysis about the people of Croydon, their lives and political times in the diverse and most-populated borough in London. Based in Croydon and edited by Steven Downes. To contact us, please email inside.croydon@btinternet.com
This entry was posted in Bromley Council, London Fire Brigade and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Join the conversation here