Firefighter rescues children on fourth day in job

Zekel Johnson said he did not hesitate to get up a ladder and save the three children

A London firefighter who rescued three children from a flat fire on his fourth day in the job has been praised for his "calm response".

Zekel Johnson, 30, was dispatched from West Norwood Fire Station to London Road, Croydon, after an e-bike battery exploded and started a fire in the building's communal hallway.

"I could see people at the second-floor window, with smoke pouring out, waving their arms. The officer in charge said someone needed to go up the ladder immediately and I did not hesitate," Mr Johnson said.

He climbed the 13.5-metre ladder and helped a child out of the window before rescuing two more children. Four adults were also assisted down the ladder.

The London Fire Brigade believes an e-bike battery started the "intense" fire

Naveen Narayanasankar, who was inside the property, said: "I had just finished work and returned home and was eating dinner in the kitchen when suddenly we heard a blast from downstairs.

"I opened the door and there was a lot of smoke already. The people downstairs were telling us there was a fire.

"Everyone in the flat woke up but there was so much smoke, we couldn't see or breathe properly. We called the fire brigade and went to the window for help where firefighters helped rescue us."

A total of six adults and three children were assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service after breathing in smoke but did not require hospital treatment.

The fire broke out in the communal hallway between the flats, blocking the exit

London Fire Brigade (LFB) assistant commissioner for fire stations, Andy Pennick, said: "The exceptional actions of our crews at this incident ensured swift rescues and limited fire spread.

"It is rare for a firefighter to attend an incident of this significance so quickly into their career and I'd like to commend Firefighter Johnson for his assured and calm response to rescue this family."

Firefighters Alex Wimbush and Virgil Mbashime, who were among the first crews to tackle the fire, which happened on 28 October, described the blaze as "intense" and "incredibly hot" and said the conditions were nothing like they had faced before.

Following an investigation, the LFB said it believed the most probable cause of the fire was the failure of a lithium-ion battery pack for a manufactured e-bike.

The e-bike was stored in the hallway and the battery pack had reportedly been charging shortly before the fire.