A significant fire erupted in a block of flats on Church Street, Upper Norwood, south London, in the early hours of Wednesday, prompting a large-scale emergency response.

The London Fire Brigade deployed approximately 60 firefighters to the scene, following the initial call received at 3:33 a.m.

Firefighting crews from stations in West Norwood, Woodside, Norbury, and nearby areas were tasked with managing the blaze.

Their efforts successfully brought the fire under control by 5:10 a.m. During the operation, firefighters rescued ten individuals from the first and second floors of the building using ladders.

Simultaneously, Metropolitan Police officers assisted in escorting an additional six people from the lower ground floor to safety.

London Ambulance Service personnel transported six of those rescued to hospital for further medical evaluation and treatment.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with both the London Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police involved.

Emergency services also reported that 999 control operators provided fire survival guidance to residents during the incident.