Flat fire - Hornsey

Firefighters are urging people to ensure they never leave cooking unattended and to take extra care in the kitchen after a fire at a flat in Upper Tollington Park, Hornsey.

Residents in a neighbouring flat saw and smelt smoke coming from a ground floor flat so called the Brigade.

Crews wearing breathing apparatus rescued a man from the flat and he was treated for smoke inhalation before being taken to hospital. Firefighters removed a pot left on the gas hob.

The Brigade's fire investigators said the fire was accidental and was caused by a plastic bottle of solidified oil being place in a pan of boiling water on the gas hob, which was then left unattended. The pan boiled dry and the plastic bottle containing the oil caught alight.

The property also had no working smoke alarms fitted.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “There were no working smoke alarms fitted in this property but thankfully a neighbour smelt smoke and raised the alarm. You should ensure you have a working smoke alarm in every room where there is a risk of a fire starting and a heat alarm fitted in the kitchen.

"Never try to soften oil by placing it in water in a hot pan. We would also like to remind the public to never leave cooking unattended – if you have to leave the room or the house, turn the heat off."

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 teatowels 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.

The Brigade was called at 2008 and the fire was under control at 2059. Fire crews from Holloway, Hoensey and Stoke Newington fire stations attended the scene.