Fire at block of flats - Bethnal Green

Firefighters have issued a smoking safety warning after a carelessly discarded cigarette is believed to have started a fire on a balcony in Ramsey Street, Bethnal Green.

A split level maisonette on the fifth and sixth floor was damaged by the fire. Two men were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and one of the men was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

The Brigade's fire investigation team believed the fire was caused by a cigarette igniting combustible materials stored on a balcony. This makes it the seventh fire in London in under three weeks which has been caused by smoking.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “We would rather people didn’t smoke at all but if they do, vaping is a safer option.

"If you do choose to smoke cigarettes, it is absolutely vital you ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it.

"If you don’t, you risk causing a fire which could not only destroy your home, but also cost you your life."

Safety advice for smokers

• Make sure you have smoke alarms fitted in every room you regularly use in your home including in the hallways.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Always ensure you stub out cigarettes properly and dispose of them carefully.
• Keep matches and lighters out of children's reach.
• Never leave lit cigarettes or cigars unattended.
• Empty ashtrays carefully, ensuring all smoking materials are stubbed out and cold.
• If you must smoke, do it outdoors.

The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took more than 40 calls to the fire.

The Brigade was called at 1422 and the fire was under control at 1537. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers from Whitechapel, Dowgate, Islington and Kentish Town fire stations attended the scene.