Two fire engines (one from Mitcham fire station, one from Tooting) and ten firefighters were called to a fire on Melrose Avenue in Mitcham last night. Part of a ground floor bedsit was damaged by fire. The Brigade was called at 2341 and the fire was under control by 0004.
Watch Manager Simpson, who was in charge of the incident, said: “We rescued a woman from the bedsit who was overcome by smoke. We think the fire was caused by some cooking that had been left on in the kitchen. This goes to show how dangerous it is to leave cooking unattended. This lady was lucky, but sadly people do die in London each year in fires that begin in the kitchen. Make sure you keep an eye on your cooking at all times to avoid disaster.”
A further nine people left the building before firefighters arrived at the scene, Watch Manager Simpson said: “Fortunately there were smoke alarms inside the building that alerted the other residents to the fire. Smoke alarms are vital as they buy you a few precious seconds to escape.”
London Fire Brigade offers free home fire safety visits where firefighters visit your home and help you to spot any potential fire hazards and show you what to do to reduce or prevent the risk of fire. They will also fit free smoke alarms where needed. For further information on home fire safety visits, you can call the Brigade for free on 08000 28 44 28. You can also visit www.london-fire.gov.uk for further information.
