Firefighters are warning people to carefully dispose of their cigarettes following a fire in a flat on Mead Place in Hackney this afternoon.
Part of a flat on the second floor was damaged by the fire.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued a woman via an internal staircase. She was suffering from smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, possibly due to careless disposal of cigarettes. A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
“Incidents like this show how important it is to dispose of cigarettes properly. It’s absolutely vital you ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire that could destroy not only your home, but also your life.”
The Brigade was called at 1223 and the fire was under control by 1302. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers from Homerton, Bethnal Green and Whitechapel fire stations attended the scene.