Flat fire – East Ham

Firefighters are sharing their fire safety advice for smokers after a flat fire on Boleyn Road in East Ham.

Firefighters arrived to find a small fire involving a window frame in a communal area on the seventh floor of a block of flats. There were no reports of any injuries.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a cigarette that was left on a windowsill.

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.

“Never leave lit cigarettes unattended and make sure to stub them out properly and dispose of them carefully when you have finished smoking. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire, which could not only destroy your home, but also put lives at risk.”

Firefighters' smoking safety tips

• Use proper ashtrays, which can’t tip over and stub cigarettes out properly.
• Don’t leave lit pipes or cigarettes unattended.
• It's safer to smoke outside, but make sure cigarettes are put right out and disposed of properly.
• Don't balance cigars or cigarettes on the edge of an ashtray, or anything else – they can tip and fall as they burn away and cause a fire.
• Take extra care when you’re tired, taking prescription drugs or if you’ve been drinking alcohol.
• Always empty ashtrays carefully. Make sure smoking materials are out, cold and preferably wet them before throwing into a bin – never use a wastepaper basket.

The Brigade was called at 1551 and the fire was under control by 1638. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford and Poplar fire stations attended the scene.