Investigation into fatal fire in south-east London
Two women and two young children have died in the house fire in Bexleyheath
Last updated 19th Nov 2021
An investigation's underway into the cause of a fire in Bexleyheath in south-east London in which two women and two children have died.
Fire crews and police were called to a semi-detached terrace on Hamilton Road at around 8.30pm last night (18 Nov), and residents have described seeing the house go up in flames while firefighters attempted to rescue those inside.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) said around 40 firefighters in six engines rushed to the blaze.
Using ladders and breathing apparatus, crews managed to pull the adults and children from the property, but they were pronounced dead at the scene.
The youngsters are believed to be a young boy and girl, the Metropolitan Police said, and the four victims are believed to be related to each other.
A man is in hospital with non-life threatening leg injuries, while another man who arrived at the scene was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service (LAS) crews, the force said.
Builder and nearby resident Scott James, 44, said the house was "quickly engulfed in flames" on Thursday evening as smoke blew on to the street, while a "distraught" man collapsed against a wall.
"The downstairs was on fire and then the whole house went up. It was engulfed in flames. There wasn't an explosion," he told the PA news agency.
Mr James said he told other neighbours to stay back until firefighters arrived who "very quickly had ladders up to the windows" and pulled one woman out from the upper level.
"I saw them yesterday and waved at them," he said.
"I spoke to them just to say hello. It was just pleasantries. It is very sad to wake up this morning and hear they have perished."
Fatal house fire in Bexleyheath
Family members visit scene
It's understood from a family member who arrived at the scene that the male occupant of the house was at work when the fire started and was called home. A cousin of the man said: "it's impossible to describe what's he's going through. It's absolute tragedy, You can't prepare for this kind of thing... you never expect this thing to happen in your family."
"It's an absolute tragedy"
Uniformed officers stood guard in front of blue sheets at the end of the road, where mourners had laid flowers.
The cause of the fire is not thought to be suspicious and there have been no arrests, the Met said.
Detective Chief Superintendent Trevor Lawry, head of policing for Bexley, Lewisham and Greenwich said: "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased, who have suffered such an awful and devastating loss.
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: "This is a truly terrible incident which is both sad and shocking.
"Our thoughts are with the family, friends and local community at this difficult time."