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  "path": "/news/battersea-fire-london-flat-blaze-firefighters-rush",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-11T18:47:34.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Patients evacuated and major incident declared as blaze erupts at Southampton hospital",
    "Travel chaos engulfs London as huge fire erupts near Euston station and smoke billows over capital",
    "Fifth suspect arrested over arson attacks at Keir Starmer's property in London",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n\nFirefighters have rushed to tackle a roaring blaze engulfing a block of flats in south London.\n\nThe London Fire Brigade confirmed eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters descended on the scene on Charlotte Despard Avenue in Battersea.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA flat on the seventh floor of the 10-storey building is alight, LFB added.\n\nFootage from the scene shows dramatic plumes of smoke billowing into the sky, while emergency services attempt to control the situation.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nControl officers have received more than 20 calls over the blaze, LFB confirmed.\n\nOne of the LFB's 32-metre turntable ladders was used at the block of flats to help fight the fire from above.\n\nCrews from Battersea, Clapham, Lambeth and surrounding fire stations rushed to the scene after they were first alerted at 6.46pm.\n\nVideos show orange flames engulfing the sides of a room within the building.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe London Fire Brigade urged individuals to stay away from the affected area.\n\nThe cause of the fire is under investigation.\n\nLast month, another fire broke out off the avenue along Battersea Park Road, with 60 firefighters flocking to combat the blaze.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Patients evacuated and major incident declared as blaze erupts at Southampton hospital\n  * Travel chaos engulfs London as huge fire erupts near Euston station and smoke billows over capital\n  * Fifth suspect arrested over arson attacks at Keir Starmer's property in London\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAt the time, a LFB spokesman said: \"Two occupants inside one of the flats were alerted to a smoke alarm sounding. They then found smoke coming from a bedroom and evacuated the building and called 999.\"\n\nThey stressed the importance of working smoking alarms on every level of a house.****\n\n\"Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts and we would urge everyone to make sure they have one fitted in every room where a fire can start except kitchens or bathrooms where heat alarms are more appropriate,\" he added.\n\nThe fire was ruled accidental. It was believed to have been ignited by a fault in a USB charging plug for an LED table lamp.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA new report revealed British fire brigades are called to combat lithium-ion battery fires once every five hours.\n\nLithium-ion batteries power charge the majority of objects which can be recharged, including mobile phones, toothbrushes and vapes.\n\nThe same battery charges ebikes, e-scooters and electric vehicles.\n\nIn 2025, global business company QBE found that 1,760 fires were connected to lithium-ion batteries.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Battersea fire: Firefighters rush to tackle blaze engulfing block of flats in London"
}