Firefighters are warning Londoners not to leave cooking unattended after a small fire at a flat on Maylands Drive in Sidcup.
The fire started in the kitchen of a flat. Firefighters made the scene safe and checked on the resident's pet rabbit who was left in the garden. There were no reports of any injuries.
Borough Commander Peter Curtin said: "On arrival, our crews ventilated the property and checked to see if anyone else was left inside.
"The owner confirmed that it was just a rabbit left in the back garden, so firefighters checked on this and made the scene safe.
"Thankfully, the rabbit was okay and the owner was grateful for our attendance."
The fire is believed to have started by unattended cooking.
Practical steps for safer cooking
- Don’t leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
- 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.
- Not feeling 100 per cent? Order a takeaway – if you're very tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication 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 1344 and the incident was over for firefighters by 1354. Fire crews from Sidcup fire station attended the scene.
