Firefighters are warning smokers to dispose of smoking materials carefully after a rescuing a woman from a flat fire on Artesian Grove in New Barnet.
Part of a four-roomed flat on the ground floor of the building was damaged by fire. Ten residents left the building before the Brigade arrived. Firefighters used a fire escape hood to rescue a woman from a neighbouring flat who was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
Fire escape hoods provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes protection from four of the main fire gases (carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride and acrolein) and can be worn by conscious or unconscious people. If more than 15 minutes protection is required then another hood can be given to each wearer. They do not provide oxygen but temporarily filter toxic smoke to make breathing easier.
The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Fires caused by smoking materials including cigarettes, roll-ups, cigars and pipes, result in more deaths than any other type of fire. Stub cigarettes out properly and always dispose of them carefully.
"Make sure smoking materials are cold before emptying ashtrays. Preferably wet stubs before throwing them into a bin.”
The Brigade was called at 1709 and the fire was under control by 1755. Two fire engines and around 10 firefighters from Barnet and Southgate fire stations attended the scene.