Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters were called to a fire at a maisonette on Clouston Close in Wallington yesterday evening.
A small part of the kitchen of a first floor split-level maisonette was damaged by fire. Firefighters brought one man to safety who was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.
The fire is believed to have been caused by unattended cooking.
Leading Firefighter Anthony Edwards, who was at the scene, said: “On arrival, crews could smell burning coming from the maisonette and pitched a ladder up to the window where they could see smoke coming from the hob.
“Firefighters gained access to the property and worked quickly to bring the fire under control and bring a resident to safety.”
Firefighters’ tips for safer cooking:
- Try not to leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
- Not feeling 100%? 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.
- Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you’ve finished cooking.
- 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.
- Avoid keeping items such as toasters under cupboards or in contact with combustibles such as tea towels or kitchen roll to prevent heat build up (and possibly fire).
- Try to keep the oven, hob, cooker hood, extractor fan and grill clean – built up fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire.
- Check toasters are clean and not placed under kitchen cabinets or close to anything that can catch fire.
- 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.
The Brigade was called at 1922 and the fire was under control by 1948. Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Wallington and Croydon fire stations attended the scene.
