Firefighters have issued a reminder about the vital importance of smoke alarms after a family had a lucky escape from a house fire on Treaty Street in Islington this morning.
The blaze badly damaged the kitchen of the two storey maisonette. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers attended the scene.
The three men, a woman and a child all left the home before the arrival of the Brigade. They were suffering from smoke inhalation and taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but is believed to be accidental due to a fault in the freezer.
There was no smoke alarm fitted in the property. A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
"Everyone should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and the safest option is have those linked together. This will give the earliest warning if there is a fire in your home."
The Brigade was called at 0700 and the fire was under control by 0756. Fire crews from Euston, Islington and Kentish Town fire stations attended the scene.