House fire - Stratford

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a house on Harcourt Road in Stratford.

Brigade Control received seventeen 999 calls to the blaze. The loft conversation of a terraced house was destroyed by fire and part of an adjoining loft conversion was also damaged by fire. Thankfully there were no injuries.

The Brigade's Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and caused by a candle.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Candles are one of the most common causes of fire in the home.

"We recommend you swap your candles for flameless, LED candles. They are safer as you can leave them unattended and you don't have to worry about them being knocked over or falling asleep while they are on.

"If you do continue to use traditional candles, make sure you follow our tips to use them safely."

The Brigade was called at 1219 and the fire was under control by 1357. Fire crews from Plaistow, Leytonstone, Homerton and Sidcup fire stations were at the scene.

Firefighters’ candle safety top tips

• Make sure you put out any candles, incense and oil burners when you leave the room and especially before bed.
• These items should always be held firmly in heat-resistant holders and placed on a stable surface where they won’t be knocked over.
• Keep them away from materials that might catch fire – that's things like curtains, furniture, clothes and hair.
• Be especially careful if you have a lot of flammable items in your home, like collections of books, magazines or papers.
• Be aware that tea lights get very hot and without proper holders can melt through plastic surfaces like a TV or bath.
• To avoid accidents keep candles and other naked flames out of reach of children and pets.
• LED candles can be a great alternative – they're safe even if you fall asleep or forget to blow them out