Firefighters rescued a woman from a flat fire on Bell Green in Sydenham. Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus brought the woman down from the first floor via an internal staircase. The woman was suffering from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
The fire damaged part of a first floor flat. The fire is believed to be caused by a towel being too close to a lit hob.
London Fire Brigade spokesperson said:
“Around 60 per cent of fires in the home begin in the kitchen. It’s really important that you don’t leave cooking unattended and never leave fabrics, such as tea towels, near to a cooker or a hob, because they can catch alight very easily and flames can spread quickly.
“Please also take care with loose clothing that can easily catch fire. Don’t lean over the hob when cooking and roll up sleeves that might hang over the stove.”
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.
- Have a heat alarm fitted in your kitchen. Fitting a heat alarm in your kitchen will give you warning of an increase in temperature caused by a fire but will not be set off by cooking fumes.
- Not feeling 100 per cent? 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.
- Try to keep the oven, hob, cooker hood, extractor fan and grill clean – built up fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire.
- Use spark devices to light gas cookers – they are much safer than matches or lighters, as they don’t have a naked flame. They are safer around children, too.
- Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you’ve finished cooking.
- Check toasters are clean and not placed under kitchen cabinets or close to anything that can catch fire.
- Never put anything metal in the microwave.
The Brigade was called at 1323 and the fire was under control by 1359. Firefighters from Forest Hill, Lee Green, Lewisham and Bromley were at the scene.
