Fire at shop with flats above - Leyton

Firefighters are urging smokers to dispose of cigarettes carefully after a fire at a shop with flats above on High Road in Leyton. 

Part of the ground floor of a vacant shop and part of the first floor were damaged by fire. Around three tonnes of mixed refuse at the rear of the property was alight. There were no reports of any injuries. 

The Brigade's 999 Control Officers took nine calls to the blaze. 

The Brigade's Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Fires caused by smoking materials including cigarettes, roll-ups, cigars and pipes, result in more deaths than any other type of fire. Stub cigarettes out properly and always dispose of them carefully.

“Make sure smoking materials are cold before emptying ashtrays. Preferably wet stubs before throwing them into a bin.”

Safety advice for smokers:

• It's safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
• Never smoke in bed, and avoid smoking on arm chairs and sofas – especially if you think you might fall asleep.
• Use proper ashtrays, which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly.
• Don't balance cigars or cigarettes on the edge of an ashtray, or anything else – they can tip and fall as they burn away and cause a fire.
• Don’t leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended.
• Always empty ashtrays carefully. Make sure smoking materials are out, cold and preferably wet them before throwing into a bin – never use a wastepaper basket.

The Brigade was called at 2144 and the fire was under control by 2322. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Leyton, Leytonstone, Homerton and Stratford fire stations attended the scene.