A digital camera that had been hidden inside an oven caused a fire last week when a man went to cook his dinner, not realising the camera was inside.
The London Fire Brigade’s fire investigators believe the camera had been hidden in the oven to prevent it from being stolen by burglars.
The blaze has lead to a warning from firefighters not to store anything inside ovens or microwaves.
Two men escaped from the first floor flat before fire crews arrived and were treated for slight smoke inhalation but fortunately it’s not thought they were badly injured.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
“The man went to cook dinner but unwittingly cooked his camera instead. His girlfriend had hidden it in the oven for safekeeping but forgot to tell him. Fortunately he smelt burning plastic and he and his friend escaped and called 999.
“There are safer places to keep your treasured possessions than your oven, a safety deposit box would probably be better.
“Fortunately there was a working smoke alarm in the flat, we’d urge everyone to fit an alarm as they buy you vital extra seconds to escape if a fire breaks out.”
The Brigade was called to the fire, which was in Shadwell in east London, at 2238 on Thursday 17 October and the fire was under control by 2258. Two fire engines and 10 firefighters from Whitechapel and Shadwell fire stations rushed to the scene to extinguish the blaze, which caused some damage to the first floor flat.
Following the blaze, the Brigade issued three tips to prevent kitchen fires:
• Never use a cooking appliance as a storage place
• Never put anything metallic inside your microwave
• Don’t leave the kitchen unattended when cooking
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Notes to editors:
For further advice on safety in the kitchen, visit the Brigade’s website.