Woman in her 80s is rescued after roof collapses on upmarket street in West London

Firefighters rescue 13 people after roof over four homes collapsed on upmarket street in West London where properties are worth more than £1million

  • Firefighters rescued 13  after stair case to street was smashed by falling rubble
  • Roof collapse took place at three storey home on Chesterton Road, west London 
  • The fire service and police were scrambled shortly before 10pm on Sunday night
  • No injuries were reported and a police cordon remains in place this morning 


Firefighters rescued 13 people after the roof collapsed at a property on an upmarket west London street. 

The incident took place at a three storey home on Chesterton Road in Ladbroke Grove, west London.

The London Fire Brigade and the police were scrambled to the upmarket street, where properties are worth more than £1million on average, shortly after 10pm on Sunday night. 

A woman in her 80s was understood to be among the 13 people who were taken to safety from the building by fire crews. 

They had to be rescued from the building after falling rubble from the caved in roof smashed the staircase leading from the four flats inside the property to the street.

The roof collapse took place at a three storey home, which had been converted into flats, on Chesterton Road in west London shortly before 10pm on Sunday night

A woman in her 80s was understood to be among 13 people who had to be rescued after the property's stair case to the street were smashed by falling rubble

A woman in her 80s was understood to be among 13 people who had to be rescued after stair cases in the propety were smashed by falling rubble

Firefighters, who deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment to the scene, used ladders across the missing steps to bring those to safety

Firefighters, who deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment to the scene, used ladders across the missing steps to bring those to safety

Firefighters, who deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment to the scene, used ladders across the missing steps to bring those to safety. 

Station Commander Brett Loft, who was at the scene, said: ‘Four properties were affected by the collapse, which involved part of the front of the parapet wall at roof level.

‘The debris had collapsed onto the front steps of the properties and had trapped people inside.

‘Firefighters led 13 people from different flats within the building to safety using ladders to bridge the gap across the steps. Fortunately no one was injured.’ 

A British Transport Police drone was also used to assist the Fire Service in checking on the structural safeness of the homes, while a thermal imaging camera was also flown to check other properties for movement. 

London Fire Brigade deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment, while a British Transport Police drone was used to assist the Fire Service in checking on the structural safeness of the homes

London Fire Brigade deployed specialist Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) equipment, while a British Transport Police drone was used to assist the Fire Service in checking on the structural safeness of the homes

A Thermal imaging camera was also flown above the converted property to check other properties for movement

A Thermal imaging camera was also flown above the converted property to check other properties for movement

A large scene was put in place and various roads near to the property were cordoned off by officers from the Met Police

A large scene was put in place and various roads near to the property were cordoned off by officers from the Met Police 

A large scene was put in place and various roads near to the property were cordoned off by the force. Some of these closures remain in place this morning. 

A spokesperson for the Met Police told Mail Online: ‘Policewere called at around 2150hrs on Sunday, 4 July, to the partial collapse ofroofs at two residential properties in Chesterton Road, W10.

‘Officersattended along with LFB and LAS. Thereare no reported injuries. Cordonsremain in place at the location.’

The London Ambulance team were also mobilised to the incident and have been contacted for comment. The woman was freed using a turntable ladder.