
Under control: 70 firefighters took two hours to get the Thornton Heath blaze under control
There were no reports of any injuries after a fire spread across two neighbouring residential properties on Lenham Road, just off Grangewood Park, in the early hours of this morning.
Thornton Heath locals spoke of the smell of smoke still lingering over the neighbourhood as they set about their Bank Holiday weekend today.
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters were called to the fire which began in a mid-terraced house that had been converted into flats. Part of the ground and first floors and the whole of the roof of one building was alight, as well as part of the ground floor of the next-door property.
Station Commander Alec McNally, who was at the scene, said: “Crews worked hard to bring the fire under control as quickly and safely as possible.
“The blaze was producing a significant amount of smoke and we encouraged nearby residents to keep their windows and doors closed while crews brought the incident under control.”
One of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as a water tower to tackle flames from height.
The Brigade’s Control Officers took the first calls to the fire at 2.18am and sent crews from West Norwood, Norbury, Woodside, Beckenham, Forest Hill, Croydon, Tooting and other stations. The fire was under control by 4.29am.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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