South Kensington fire: 11 people taken to hospital after blaze at five-storey house

Eleven people have been taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a converted terraced house in South Kensington.

Emergency services were called to reports of a fire at a five-storey building on Emperor’s Gate just after midnight on Friday. A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said 11 people were treated on scene before being taken to “London hospitals and major trauma centres”.

London Fire Brigade said the injured were treated for smoke inhalation. The service said 15 fire engines and about 100 firefighters attended the scene, where half of the ground floor of the building was alight.

Around 15 people left the building before firefighters arrived, with around 130 people in total evacuated from the property where the fire started and its neighbouring buildings.

The brigade said two people were rescued from a second floor flat, one person was rescued from a first floor flat and another two were rescued from a flat on the fourth floor.

Station Commander Steve Collins said: “The fire has spread from the ground floor to the top floor and roof of the property. Crews worked extremely hard to contain the (fire) to stop it 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.”

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said council staff are providing assistance at a nearby hotel where residents are being sheltered.

Deputy leader councillor Kim Taylor-Smith said in a statement: “We are on the ground and providing support and accommodation to residents impacted. I also want to thank the emergency services for the incredible job they have done in very challenging conditions, and to staff at the council who have sprung into action in the middle of the night.”

Emergency services remain at the scene. The cause of the fire is not yet known.