Firefighters are reminding people to store and use petrol safely after petrol vapour was found to be the cause of a fire that damaged a row of four terraced houses in Evans Grove, Feltham yesterday.
Brigade fire investigators believe that the fire started when petrol vapour from an open canister was ignited from a cigarette lighter flame.
The fire started in the rear garden of one of the properties and spread from a shed to surrounding fence, house and two adjoining properties.
The shed and fence were completely destroyed by fire and the ground floor and first floor of the house were also damaged in the blaze. The roof of the property was gutted by the fire. Two neighbouring properties also sustained fire damage.
Two adults and three children left one of the properties before the arrival of the Brigade. One man was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service for minor burns.
Mick Gavin, from the Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team, said: “The residents of this house had a lucky escape as the fire spread quickly from the shed to the house. It’s so important to remember that even petrol vapours can ignite so if you are storing petrol keep naked flames or sparks well away from open petrol canisters.”
Six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers were called to the scene at 1524 on Monday (August 22) and the fire was under control by 1654. Fire crews from Twickenham, Richmond, Feltham, Heston and Heathrow fire stations attended the scene.
London Fire Brigade’s guidelines on storing petrol
Petrol is highly flammable, explosive and toxic and there are laws that you need to follow if you are storing it.