Seven people rescued in Harlesden fire

Children escaped down ladder to safety

Seven people, including three children, had to be rescued after a fire ripped through a house in Harlesden on Saturday (July 30).

Crews used ladders to bring down a man, three women, two girls and a boy, from the badly damaged semi-detached house in Connaught Road.

Another two men and a woman escaped from the building before 20 firefighters arrived at just after 10.30pm.

Neighbour, Vilma Augustin, said: “My son-in-law came back and told us there was a fire next door.

“When I came outside I heard this huge explosion followed by a big ball of fire.

“I was holding my three-year-old granddaughter and she was shaking with fear.

“The fire brigade came and took a woman and two kids and a new born baby out using the step ladder.”

Patrick O’Driscoll, who lives next door, said: “I came outside and saw a man hanging from a window ledge and then drop down on to a car outside.

“Couple of minutes later there was a being explosion.

“The fire brigade turned up a little bit later and got the women and kids out.

“No-one seems to know how it happened.”

Three children and three adults were taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. Another four people were treated on the scene.

The cause of the fire is now under investigation.