Firefighters were called to a dramatic scene in Deptford this morning following reports of an explosion and subsequent fire at a semi-detached house on Grove Street.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters responded to the incident, which broke out shortly after 8:00 a.m. The first emergency call was received at 8:04 a.m. on Wednesday, March 26th, 2025, with crews from Deptford, Greenwich, New Cross, and Dockhead fire stations racing to the scene.

On arrival, firefighters found the first floor of the property well alight, with charred window frames and blackened exterior walls visible from the street. Most of the first floor was severely damaged by the flames.

One woman managed to escape the building before the London Fire Brigade arrived and was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.

Two additional women were rescued by firefighters from inside the property and were also transported to hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries has not yet been disclosed.

To help tackle the fire from above, crews deployed one of the Brigade’s 32-metre turntable ladders, allowing firefighters to douse the flames from an elevated position.

The incident was brought under control by 9:55am, but the cause of the explosion and fire remains under investigation.

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 to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

Local residents were temporarily evacuated as a precaution but have since been allowed to return to their homes. Police also attended the scene to assist with traffic and crowd control.