Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters were called to a fire at a maisonette on Amina Way in Bermondsey.
Part of the kitchen of a maisonette on the ground floor was damaged by fire. Six people left the building before the Brigade arrived. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued one man who was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation and taken to hospital.
The fire is believed to have started when a hob was accidentally turned on.
Firefighters' tips for safer cooking
- Have a heat alarm fitted in your kitchen. Fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen will give you warning of an increase in temperature caused by a fire but will not be set off by cooking fumes.
- Don't leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill - if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
- Always keep an eye on children and pets in the kitchen: don't leave them unsupervised, put matches away and keep saucepan handles out of reach.
- Not feeling 100%? Order a takeaway- if you're very tired, have been drinking alcohol, or are taking medicine that might make you drowsy, it's safer not to risk it.
- Be fabric aware - loose clothing can easily catch fire, so take care not to lean over a hot hob and always keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.
- Try to keep the oven, hob, cooker hood, extractor fan and grill clean - built up fat and grease can 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. They are safer around children too.
- Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you've finished cooking.
- Check toasters are clean and not placed under kitchen cabinets or close to anything that can catch fire.
- Never put anything metal in the microwave.
The Brigade was called at 1319 and the fire was under control by 1435. Fire crews from Old Kent Road, Dowgate and Deptford fire stations attended the scene.
