Fire investigators believe a cigarette may have caused a fire on a balcony on Thurlow Street in Walworth, yesterday evening. They believe it was dropped from a flat above and blown onto the balcony, landing amongst bags of clothing on the first floor..
No injuries were reported and fortunately the fire did not spread beyond the balcony. Around 10 people were evacuated from the building by the police.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “If you smoke, it’s so important to ensure your cigarette is disposed of carefully. It’s really dangerous to throw cigarettes off balconies, and as we’ve seen here they can easily start fires. Make sure your cigarette is fully out and use a proper ashtray that won’t burn or tip over easily, and never leave your lit cigarette unattended.”
The Brigade was called at 1805 and the fire was under control by 1855. Fire crews from Peckham, Dockhead, New Cross and Brixton fire stations attended the incident.