Seventy firefighters tackle early morning blaze at Lewisham hospital

April 24, 2026

Approximately 70 firefighters and eight fire engines were called to a significant fire at a hospital building on Lewisham High Street in the early hours of Friday morning, 24 April 2026. The blaze broke out within a specialist hospital unit, necessitating the rapid evacuation of 15 people as crews worked to contain the flames.

Strategic Evacuation and Containment

The London Fire Brigade's 999 Control officers received the first of five emergency calls at 02:22. Due to the sensitive nature of the site, a substantial resource was mobilised, with crews attending from Lewisham, Greenwich, Forest Hill, Lee Green, East Greenwich, Deptford, and New Cross fire stations.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus led around 15 people to safety from the affected block. The fire was located on the third floor of a multi-storey unit, with officials confirming that approximately half of one room was damaged by the fire. Through a coordinated offensive attack, the Brigade brought the incident under control by 04:48.

Joint Investigation and Local Impact

The cause of the blaze is currently under investigation by the London Fire Brigade’s Fire Investigation team and the Metropolitan Police. While the specific hospital unit was not named in the initial LFB report, Lewisham High Street is home to University Hospital Lewisham, and the presence of emergency vehicles caused temporary traffic diversions throughout the morning.

Hospital fires are managed under strict "Stay Put" or "Phased Evacuation" protocols, and the fact that firefighters assisted in a physical evacuation indicates the seriousness of the smoke logging on the third floor. There have been no reports of any injuries following the incident. Residents and patients are advised that while the fire is extinguished, a police presence may remain on-site as forensic teams work to determine the origin of the fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Met police.

Author

South London News Police & Courts Desk

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