Bexleyheath fire: Four dead including two children after horrific blaze

Two women, a four-year-old boy and 18-month-old girl have died in a house fire in South East London.

Fire crews rushed to the scene on Hamilton Road in Bexleyheath at just before 8.30pm last night (Thursday, November 18).

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended. Crews in breathing apparatus rescued two women and two children from the first floor using a nine-metre ladder but all four died at the scene.

READ MORE: Heartbroken family in tears at scene of house fire that killed 4

One man, believed to be a 'brother-in-law' managed to escape by jumping from a window. It's reported he broke both legs, before the London Fire Brigade arrived and was rushed to hospital by London Ambulance Service.

He remains there but his condition is not thought to be life-threatening.

A neighbour saw a 'distraught' man collapsed against a wall as fire engulfed the house. The blaze was out by 9.45pm.

Mourners have been leaving flowers at the end of Hamilton Road this morning in memory of those who lost their lives.

Stay-at-home mum Ling, 36, says she heard the children screaming in the house, and that paramedics performed CPR on the two children.

Fighting back tears, the neighbour, who lives 10 metres away from the house where the fire struck, told MyLondon: "We saw a fire fighter carry two kids and the ambulance tried to do CPR for them.

"They tried really hard, they didn’t give up. They tried to keep doing CPR and then they stopped and I saw that the baby had passed away."

Fire scene investigators were at the scene last night and will return again later today, according to LFB Bexley borough commander James Morford, who confirmed that two infant children and two adult women had died.

Metropolitan Police forensic teams have been on scene this morning. The cause of the fire has not yet been established, though the Metropolitan Police has released a statement to say it is not thought to be have been started deliberately.

Fire crews from Bexley, Erith, Plumstead, Lee Green and Sidcup were all called out.

For the latest updates on this developing story follow our live blog below.

Did you know the victims and would like to pay tribute? If so, please email sam.ormiston@reachplc.com