Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a flat on Cliveden Place in Belgravia.
Part of a flat on the fifth floor and part of a flat on the fourth floor were damaged by fire. Part of the roof was also damaged by the blaze. The Metropolitan Police Service evacuated 25 people from a neighbouring hotel as a precaution. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade's Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by a duvet which came into contact with a heat lamp.
Firefighters' tips for using heaters safely
- Never place heaters near anything that can easily catch fire- like bedding or curtains.
- Keep heaters well away from clothes, curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
- Always sit at least one metre away from a heater as it could set light to your clothes or chair.
- Before attempting to move your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool first.
- Make sure heaters are well maintained and in good working order.
- Check that your heater isn't on a recall list– there have been many fires in the past year connected to heaters that have been recalled.
- Never install, repair or service appliances yourself. Make sure anyone who does is registered with the Gas Safe Register (for gas appliances), the Heating Equipment Testing and Approval Scheme (HETAS) (for solid
fuel appliances), or the Oil Firing Technical Association (OFTEC) (for oil appliances).
- Don't take risks with old heaters – if it's electrical and getting older, get it tested by a qualified electrician or buy a new one.
- Where appropriate, secure heaters against a wall to stop them falling over, or fit wall-mounted heaters.
The Brigade was called at 0238 and the fire was under control by 0405. Fire crews from Chelsea, Lambeth, Clapham and Kensington fire stations attended the scene.
