Woman dies in horror Plumsted house fire after police helicopter rushes to blaze

A 90-year-old woman has died in a horror house fire so big that fire crews were forced to send a helicopter to aid firefighters. Emergency services, including firefighters from multiple stations and police, rushed to southeast London today following reports of a fire at a home on Nithdale Road in Plumstead at around 1.50am.

Crews from Plumstead, Eltham, and Sidcup fire stations were sent to the scene, and were joined by a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service team to extinguish the fire, which damaged part of the ground floor. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said in a statement that the blaze was under control by 2.39am, but confirmed a woman died.

The service said fire crews rescued the woman from the home, but added she was later declared dead at the scene. The Metropolitan Police said in a statement that it is investigating the circumstances of the fire, with a spokesperson confirming an increased police presence would be stationed in the area.

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It said: "Police were called to a report of a fire at an address in Nithdale Road, Plumstead. Emergency services attended and a 90-year-old woman sadly died at the scene. The circumstances of the fire is being investigated and an increase in police presence can be expected in the area. Inquiries are ongoing."

In its own statement, the LFB confirmed the fire took place in a "mid-terraced" property spread over two floors, adding its investigators would assist the Met Police following the incident. The service said: "Sadly a woman has died following a house fire on Nithdale Road, Plumstead.

"The fire occurred in a mid-terraced property of two floors, damaging part of the ground floor. Crews rescued a woman from the property, but she was sadly later declared dead at the scene by a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service team. The Brigade was first called about the incident at 1.48am, and crews from Plumstead, Eltham, and Sidcup fire stations were sent to the scene.

"Firefighters had the incident under control by 2.39am. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and ." The emergency response in London comes as firefighters tackle a major fire which has coughed smoke into the skies above Basildon, Essex.

Dramatic photos show thick plumes of black smoke pouring over homes in the area after the inferno ignited on an industrial site before spreading to parked lorries and skips. has placed road closures in the are which have caused traffic to build up on the A13 as they respond to the incident, and have asked people to close their windows and doors.

A spokesman for Essex Fire and Rescue said: "Firefighters are currently at the scene of an industrial unit fire in Vange Park Road, Basildon. Four crews from Basildon, Brentwood and Canvey were called at 2:20pm. On arrival, crews reported a fire in an industrial unit had spread to lorries and a number of skips.

"Firefighters requested additional crews from Grays, Rayleigh and Southend to help extinguish the fire in sections. Crews have extinguished the fire in the building and extinguished four lorry fires.

Firefighters are currently working with on-site staff to remove 10 skips using plant machinery and extinguish the fires within the skips.

"The fire is producing lots of smoke so if you live or are travelling nearby, please keep your windows and doors closed."