Burnt toast causes Sutton flat fire

Toast lovers are being reminded that burnt bread can be more than a breakfast spoiler, after a flat fire in Sutton yesterday.

The fire is believed to have started after the occupant who had been cooking toast using the oven grill became distracted, causing the toast to burn. He then threw burning toast into a plastic waste bin, before turning off the oven and leaving the room.

Around half an hour later he heard a noise in the kitchen and returned to discover a fire on the top of the plastic waste bin. The man and six other people from adjoining flats left the building before the arrival of the Brigade and fortunately no-one was injured.

Part of the kitchen was damaged by the fire, which completely destroyed two plastic waste bins and the rest of the flat suffered smoke damage.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "You should never leave cooking unattended, not even toast - if you have to leave the room, turn the heat off. If you later find your cooking has burnt allow it to cool  before throwing it away, especially if you are discarding it in a plastic waste bin."

Below are the Brigade’s three top tips on safety in the kitchen:

• Take pans off the heat and turn off the hob and/or grill if you have to leave the kitchen while cooking, and make sure the oven, hob and grill is turned off when you have finished cooking. 
• Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that can make you drowsy. 
• Keep handles of pans turned to the back of the hob and away from other gas burners/electric rings
  

Two fire engines from Sutton and Purley fire stations attended the incident. The Brigade was called at 1236 and the fire was under control at 1257.