Flat fire – Teddington

Firefighters have issued a cooking safety reminder after a fire at a flat on Harrowdene Gardens in Teddington.

A flat on the first floor of a three-storey block was damaged by the fire. One man left the property before the Brigade arrived. He was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service crews.

The Brigade’s fire investigators believe the fire was caused by cooking left unattended.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Fires are more likely to start in your kitchen than any other room in your home.

"Cooking should never be left unattended on the hob or grill and if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.

"Chip pans and cooking with hot oil can be really dangerous and the risk increases when you start frying food more than once.

"All it can take it for you to become distracted for a few seconds and your cooking oil can quickly go up in flames."

The Brigade was called at 2113 and the fire was under control by 2227. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Twickenham and Kingston fire stations were at the scene.

Firefighters' tips for safer cooking

• Don’t leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire.
• Never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil.
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil – oil and water are a dangerous mix.
• If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• 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.
• 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.