Fire in built environment

Firefighters were called to a dramatic scene in Deptford this morning following reports of an explosion and subsequent fire at a semi-detached house. The incident on Grove Street, which broke out shortly after 8am on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, saw four fire engines and around 25 firefighters responding swiftly to contain the blaze.Emergency calls began flooding in at 8am, prompting crews from Deptford, Greenwich, New Cross, and Dockhead fire stations to rush to the scene. The first floor of the property was alight, with charred window frames and blackened exterior walls visible from the street. The flames had severely damaged most of the first floor, creating a challenging scenario for responders.One woman managed to escape the burning building before emergency crews arrived and was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.Firefighters rescued two additional women from inside the property, who were also transported to the hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.Crews deployed one of the London Fire Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders, allowing firefighters to douse the flames from above.Their efforts successfully brought the fire under control by 9:55am., though investigations into the cause of the explosion and fire are still ongoing.A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Crews responded quickly and worked efficiently to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading further."The use of the aerial ladder allowed us to gain an advantage from above, helping to bring the incident to a close safely.”Emergency services are continuing to examine the scene, and fire investigators will be working.