An emergency services operator helped a woman survive a fire which had trapped her in her flat in Chelsea .

The 999 operator gave vital fire survival guidance to the occupant when flames broke out at the property in Cadogan Square just before midnight on Monday (July 25).

The blaze started on the first floor of the maisonette while the occupant was on the second floor of the property. She was alerted to the fire by a smoke alarm and called 999.

But because of the location of the fire and the smoke, she was unable to leave her home and was helped by the emergency operator over the phone.

Watch manager Mark Nunan, who was at the scene, said: “It is important to stay on the line after making the initial emergency report because our control officers can give you advice on how to stay safe if you cannot escape a fire.

“Control officers kept the woman calm and advised her what to do until crews got to her.

"She stayed on the flat roof and the breathing apparatus crews got to her, stayed with her and reassured her until the fire was extinguished.

“The woman was then led to safety via an internal staircase.”

The Brigade was called at 11.57pm and had the fire under control at 1.31am. Crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Fulham and Soho fire stations attended the scene.

Last year getwestlondon reported how a 999 operator helped lead a family from Brent to safety after a suspected arson attack.