Firefighters have issued a safety reminder after an unattended saucepan is believed to have caused a fire in Richmond Road, Kingston, this evening.
Part of a fourth floor flat was damaged in the fire. One man left the property before the Brigade arrived and another man was rescued by crews wearing breathing apparatus. He was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews suffering smoke inhalation.
The Brigade’s fire investigators believe the blaze was accidental and was started by a saucepan being left on the hob and boiling dry.
Neighbours heard the smoke alarm and discovered the smell of burning, and then called 999.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “It is believed this fire was started by a saucepan which was left on the hob to boil dry.
“This is a timely reminder that cooking should never be left unattended. If you have to leave the room or the house, turn the heat off.
“Fires can start in any room and this particular fire also shows how important smoke and heat alarms are. Heat alarms are designed for use in the kitchen and go off if the temperature rises quickly or a dangerous temperature is reached.
“We also recommend smoke alarms are fitted in every room where fires can start as well as in the hallway but as a minimum you should fit at least one per floor.”
The Brigade was called at 2045 and the fire was under control at 2140. Two fire crews from Kingston fire station attended the scene.
• Avoid leaving cooking unattended
• Don’t cook if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or taking medication that might make you drowsy
• Take care not to lean over hot hobs and keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob
• Be careful to keep the oven, hob, cooker hood and grill clean to avoid a build-up of fat and grease, which could ignite and cause a fire
• Use spark devices to light gas cookers – they are much safer than matches or lighters as they don’t have a naked flame
• Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you’ve finished cooking
• Check toasters are clean and placed away from anything that can catch fire
• Never put anything metal in the microwave
• Supervise children and pets in the kitchen at all times and keep matches and saucepan handles out of reach
• Don’t tackle the fire yourself and don’t attempt to move the pan
• Never throw water over a fire as it could create a fireball
• Turn off the heat, if it is safe to do so
• Leave the room, close the door, shout a warning to others and call 999