Firefighters are warning never to try to tackle a fire yourself after a house fire on Palmerston Road in Southgate.
Part of the ground and first floors of a three-storey end-of-terrace house were damaged by fire. Five people left the building before the Brigade arrived. One woman was taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation.
The fire was discovered by residents inside the property who could smell burning and upon investigation, saw smoke coming from the door of a rear ground floor bedroom. They attempted to extinguish the fire before leaving the building and calling 999.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “On arrival, crews were faced with a large amount of smoke coming from the rear of the property and found a well developed fire in the bedroom.
“We would like to remind people to never try to tackle a fire yourself. Leave it to the professionals. As soon as you become aware of a fire in your property, get out, stay out, close the door behind you and call 999.”
The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers took nine calls to the blaze.
The Brigade was called at 1232 and the fire was under control by 1329. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Hornsey, Tottenham, Southgate and Edmonton fire stations attended the scene.
The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical fault inside a plug socket.