Firefighters are warning people not to leave their cooking unattended after a fire at a house converted into flats on Glaserton Road in Hackney yesterday afternoon.
The fire in the communal kitchen damaged part of the basement flat. It's believed a man attempted to tackle the fire himself and was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service before being taken to hospital suffering from burns.
Three other people evacuated from the other flats in the building and no other injuries are reported.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Never try to tackle a fire yourself as this delays your escape from the property. Get out, stay out and call 999.
“The cause of the fire is accidental following cooking left unattended. If you are cooking and you have to leave the room, turn the heat off before you do.
“This incident shows how important smoke alarms are but also heat detectors for kitchens. These are designed for use in the kitchen and go off when a certain temperature is reached.
“As a minimum you should have at least one smoke alarm fitted on the ceiling of every floor in your home, however, we recommend you fit one in every room you regularly use as well as in the hallway.
“Do not place smoke alarms in kitchens or bathrooms as the steam can damage the unit or unintentionally activate it.
“Ideal locations for smoke alarms include rooms where electrical equipment is left switched on, such as living rooms or bedrooms.”
The Brigade was called at 1610 and the fire was under control at 1653 Two fire engines and ten firefighters and officers from Hornsey and Tottenham fire stations attended the incident.