Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers dealt with a fire in an office building on York Road in Lambeth yesterday night.
The blaze badly damaged the store room of an office on the 12th floor.
An automatic smoke alarm alerted the office staff and they discovered the fire. Fifteen people left the property before the arrival of the Brigade and thankfully nobody was injured.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
"This incident proves once again the importance of having a working smoke alarm in your home or building. Everyone should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and the safest option is to have those linked together. This will give the earliest warning if there is a fire and vital extra seconds to get out and call the fire brigade."
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, due to a discarded cigarette The Brigade spokesperson added:
“This fire also shows just how vital it is to dispose of cigarettes and other smoking materials properly. It’s absolutely vital you ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire that could destroy not only your home but also your life.”
The Brigade was called at 2155 and the fire was under control by 2309. Fire crews from Lambeth, Dowgate and Euston fire stations attended the scene.