House fire - South Kensington

Six fire engines and 40 firefighters were called to a house fire on Thurloe Square in South Kensington.

Half of the basement of an end-of-terrace house was damaged by fire. One man was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation.

The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by a hob that was accidentally turned on with a drill left on top of it.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "You should never place anything that can catch fire near to the hob.

"Keep all objects, like tea towels, cloths and plastic bowls well away from the cooker and always check the hob is turned off when you've finished cooking.

“This incident also shows just how important it is to have working smoke alarms in your property. There were smoke alarms fitted inside the property which raised the alarm.

“Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning when a fire starts, providing time to escape. We encourage everyone to have smoke alarms fitted in every room where a fire could start, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen. It's important to test them regularly."

The Brigade was called at 2038 and the fire was under control by 2146. Fire crews from Soho, Fulham, Hammersmith, Paddington and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

Practical steps for safer cooking:

• Don't leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• 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.