Blaze Breaks Out on Herbrand Street in Bloomsbury
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters raced to tackle a flat fire on Herbrand Street this morning. Flames erupted on the first floor of a block of flats, sparking a swift emergency response.
Heroic Rescue with Fire Escape Hoods
Firefighters, decked out in breathing apparatus, used fire escape hoods to lead two men to safety down an internal staircase. These hoods protect wearers from deadly gases – like carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide – for up to 15 minutes, filtering toxic smoke to ease breathing. They can even be handed out again if more time is needed.
“Fire escape hoods don’t supply oxygen but guard against four major fire gases, keeping people conscious or unconscious safe,” a London Fire Brigade spokesperson explained.
Fire Quickly Brought Under Control
- The London Fire Brigade was alerted at 9.58am.
- Firefighters from Millwall, Soho, Holloway, Shoreditch, and Islington sped to the scene.
- The blaze was extinguished by 10.37am.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries have been reported so far.
