Flat fire - Croydon

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters dealt with a fire at a house converted into flats on St James’s Road in Croydon.

A ground floor flat was destroyed by the blaze. A man left the property, uninjured, before fire crews arrived. A further three adults and four children left an adjacent property also uninjured.

Station Commander Danny Slay, who was at the scene, said:

"There were a lot of possessions and clutter in the property which made it challenging for crews.

"Hoarding means exit routes can become blocked, making safe evacuation more difficult. Fires can also spread much faster, especially where there are flammable items such as newspapers or cardboard.

"Crews worked hard to bring the fire under control. Thankfully, no one was hurt."

The Brigade's Fire Investigators believe the fire was accidental and involved a lithium-ion battery.

Firefighters' safety tips for using lithium-ion batteries safely

• Avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures.
• Protect batteries against being damaged – that's crushed, punctured or immersed in water.
• Don’t leave items continuously on charge after the charge cycle is complete
• When you travel, avoid keeping all your items containing lithium ion batteries together, especially on a plane. Check with your flight carrier for additional information or advice.

The Brigade was called at 0543 and the fire was under control by 0758. Firefighters from Croydon and surrounding fire stations were at the scene.