Firefighters are urging people to have working smoke alarms after a couple and two children had a lucky escape from a blaze in Carshalton.
They were alerted to the fire on Langcroft Road on Monday morning after hearing a bang. They thankfully got out uninjured.
Wallington Station Manager John Butten said:
"The smoke alarms in the house had previously had their batteries removed. Removing batteries from your smoke alarm is playing Russian Roulette. No batteries means no detection and that could be the difference between life and death.
"The fire was also fuelled by all the doors and windows being open. If there is a fire in your home, get out quickly, call 999 and close doors behind you to slow down the spread of fire and smoke."
Four fire engines and around 20 firefighters were called to a house fire on Langcroft Close in Carshalton this morning.
The fire damaged the ground and first floors of the terraced property and part of the fascia of a neighbouring house.
The Brigade was called at 1127 and the fire was under control by 1234. Crews from Wallington, Purley, Mitcham and Sutton fire stations attended the incident. The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.