Firefighters are warning people to take care not to overload extension leads after a house fire on Martin Dene in Bexleyheath.
Half of the first floor and a small part of the loft of a semi-detached house were damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by an overloaded extension lead.
Sub Officer Peter Guppey, who was at the scene, said: “On arrival, the fire was producing heavy smoke and crews faced a developing fire at the rear of the property. Crews worked swiftly to bring the fire in a rear bedroom under control and prevent further damage to the roof.
“The property didn’t have any working smoke alarms, so it was lucky that two men managed to escape safely and called 999 as soon as they discovered the fire. You should have working smoke alarms in every room where a fire can start, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen. They should be tested regularly.
“There were multiple extension leads plugged in together leading back to a single socket. Overloaded sockets are one of the most common causes of electrical fires. Some electrical appliances use more power than others, so be mindful not to overload extension leads and always check that you’re using the right fuse for the plug.”
The Brigade was called at 0216 and the fire was under control by 0309. Three fire engines and around 15 firefighters from Bexley, Erith and Greenwich fire stations attended the scene.