House fire - Plumstead

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a house fire on Hudson Place in Plumstead.

Part of the ground floor of a mid-terraced house was damaged by the fire. One man left the property before the Brigade arrived. He was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service crews.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and involved cooking.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "Fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home.

“It’s really important that you don’t leave cooking unattended and never leave fabrics, such as tea towels or paper, 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. Don’t lean over the hob when cooking and roll up sleeves that might hang over the stove."

The Brigade was called at 1804 and the fire was under control by 1842. Fire engines from Plumstead and East Greenwich fire stations were at the scene.

Firefighters' cooking safety tips

• 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.
• 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.
• Double check the cooker and hob are turned off when you’ve finished cooking.