Flat fire - Westminster

Firefighters have issued a cooking safety reminder after a flat fire on Churchill Gardens Estate in Westminster on Saturday night.

A small part of a four-roomed flat on the fourth floor was damaged by the fire. There were no reports of any injuries.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by cooking.

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

"This incident is a timely reminder to make sure you never leave cooking unattended. If you do have to leave the room, turn off the heat."

The Brigade was called at 2013 and the fire was under control by 2118. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Soho, Lambeth, Clapham and Battersea fire stations attended the scene.

The Brigade’s top kitchen safety tips: 

• Never leave cooking unattended, even for a moment
• Always make sure the cooker is switched off once you’ve finished using it 
• Keep your oven, hob and grill clean and free from grease – a build up can be a fire hazard 
• Don’t store things like cookbooks or tea towels close to the hob as they can easily catch fire 
• Avoid cooking if you’ve been drinking alcohol 
• Never fill a pan more than a third full with oil 
• Dry chips before putting them in oil 
• Never throw water onto hot oil or fat 
• If a fire does break out you should turn the heat off if it’s safe to do so but don’t try to tackle the fire by yourself.
• Get everyone out of the house and call 999 immediately