Dramatic body-worn camera footage has captured the moment two quick-thinking police officers smashed their way into a block of flats in London to help save the lives of neighbours who had no idea a fire was raging beneath them.
Police were called to the blaze behind shops in Cranleigh Gardens in Harrow just after 6.30pm on Saturday, and took matters into their own hands before the fire brigade arrived.
On top of and bordering the business were a number of residential flats, home to many young families, which the officers, aided by members of the public, bravely helped evacuate.
The footage, released by the Metropolitan Police today, begins by showing the extent of the flames raging, as the first officer asks a man if a neighbouring property is a house, before being seen trying to kick down the door.
He then tells him to ‘go around the front, knock on all the doors of the houses and get people to go’.
Seconds later the officer makes his way inside the property, yelling: ‘Anyone in there? Get out,’ as he uses a fire extinguisher to break down another door inside.
Footage then shows a second officer climbing the stairs of a building, using a hand-held torch for light, telling residents in his path – including a mother and young child – to evacuate.
Dramatic body-worn footage released by the Met Police shows the extent of the flames, pictured, which engulfed commercial premises in Harrow, north-west London on Saturday night
The video shows doors being bravely kicked down, pictured, as officers told a member of the public to ‘go around the front, knock on all the doors of the houses and get people to go’
One of the hero officers uses a torch to navigate his way up the stairs, where what looks like a mother and young child, pictured, is among those being told to evacuate
As children can be heard crying in the background, an officer insists evacuated families waiting by the side of the road ‘stay calm’
Shortly after, the officer can be heard violently coughing and spluttering on his way out of the property, as he confirms to a colleague that the site has been cleared.
The video then moves on to show a man kicking down the door of another building, who is asked by the officer to ‘check all the rooms’, before demanding his team moves onto the next house in the street.
As children can be heard crying in the background, he insists evacuated families waiting by the side of the road ‘stay calm’ and tells those still in the building to go: ‘No time to get anything, let’s just get out of here.’
The clip, which lasts one minute and 51 seconds in total, ends with an officer directing fire engines to the scene of the blaze, which is still raging.
The force has since confirmed all occupants were safely evacuated, though some were treated for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance service, as the fire brigade brought the flames under control, with minor damage to the residents’ homes.
Another parent and child, pictured, were told: ‘No time to get anything, let’s just get out of here’ in the dramatic clip
Acting Chief Inspector James Noble said he was ‘incredibly proud’ of the actions of the two officers
The brave officers could be heard coughing and spluttering on their way out of the buildings, and had to be treated at the scene for smoke inhalation but were not seriously harmed and are back out on duty
The fire brigade brought the flames, pictured, under control, after being called just after 6.30pm, with minor damage to the residents’ homes
Though there was some damage caused by the fire, pictured, nobody was seriously injured in the blaze thanks to the quick-thinking of those on the scene
The two officers were also treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.
Acting Chief Inspector James Noble praised the officers for their brave actions.
He said: ‘I am incredibly proud of the actions of these two officers, thanks to their quick-thinking nobody was seriously injured.
‘Their actions demonstrate the commitment our officers have to protecting the members of the public, who, in this case, had no idea there was a fire in the building beneath them, until our officers raised the alarm.
‘My thanks as well to the brave member of the public who assisted my officers.
‘Thankfully the officers were not seriously harmed and are back out on duty.’
A London Fire Brigade spokesman added: ‘Four fire engines and around 21 firefighters dealt with a shop fire.
‘Eight people self evacuated from the flats above before firefighters arrived.
‘Part of the ground floor was damaged by the blaze. A number of white goods stored in the courtyard were also damaged by fire.
‘The Brigade was called at 6.39pm and the fire was under control by 7.34pm. Fire crews from Stanmore, Wembley and Harrow fire stations were at the scene.
‘The cause of the fire is under investigation.’