Fire at chalet bungalow - Romford

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a chalet bungalow on Cross Road in Romford.

Half of the first floor and part of the roof were damaged in the blaze. One woman left the property before the arrival of the Brigade. She was treated on scene by firefighters.

The Brigade's fire investigators believe the fire was accidental and was caused by a fault in a washing machine.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson: “Nearly one fire a day in London involves white goods.

“It’s really important you don’t ignore any strange noises being made by any of your white goods. If you think there might be a problem, always unplug it and contact the manufacturer or a qualified repair technician.

“White goods should also always be stored in a safe place out of the way. If a fire does break out, you need all escape routes to be clear.”

The Brigade was called at 1534 and the fire was under control by 1728. Fire crews from Romford, Dagenham, Harold Hill and Ilford fire stations attended the scene.

What do you need to know about large appliances and fire safety?

• If you are concerned about the safety of a product stop using it and make your concern known to the retailer, manufacturer or your local Trading Standards office.
• Clean your tumble dryer filter after every load.
• Don't overload sockets with lots of energy-hungry appliances – follow the one plug per socket rule.
• A list of recalled products is available on the gov.uk Product Recall page.
• Take extra care with second-hand appliances, ensure they have been safety checked and are not listed on the product recall register.
• Always make sure new appliances are registered so that manufacturers can contact you in the event of any problems – it takes minutes to registermyappliance.org.uk
• Avoid using dishwashers, washing machines, and tumble dryers when you’re asleep or away from home.
• When you’re asleep, if a fire starts you will have less time to react and get out to safety. Make sure that you know the plan.