Fatal Brixton fire: Woman dead in blaze which ‘completely destroyed’ part of house

A woman has died in a house fire in Brixton which “completely destroyed” half the first floor of a building.

Firefighters battled a blaze at a house in Railton Road, in Lambeth, in the early hours of this morning.

Crews wearing breathing equipment rescued a woman from the first floor of the building, half of which was “completely destroyed” by the flames.

However, she died at the scene.

A section of Railton Road between Kellett Road and Effra Parada is closed and emergency services are at the scene.

Traffic is coping well in the area and there is a diversion in place for the bus route 322.

Two men escaped the blaze before firefighters arrived and did not suffer any injuries.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to a two-storey property on Railton Road, which runs from Brixton to Herne Hill, at 4.08am today (Monday, January 24).

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Acton, Clapham, Peckham and West Norwood fire stations attended the fire in the mid-terraced property.

The flames were under control by 5.03am.

The fire brigade has confirmed the cause of the fire will be investigated.

A spokesperson for the LFB said: “Sadly a woman has died in a house fire on Railton Road, in Lambeth.”

A Met Police spokesperson said: “Emergency services were called at around 4.08am on Monday, 24 January, to a fire at residential premises in Railton Road, Lambeth.

“Officers attended along with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the London Ambulance Service (LAS).

“A woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her next of kin has been informed. A post-mortem examination will be arranged in due course.

“The cause of the fire is unknown and subject to investigation by officers alongside LFB colleagues.

“There has been no arrest.”