Firefighters have issued a stark warning about the dangers of candles after a block of flats in Greenwich was hit by a fire on Sunday.
The London Fire Brigade said they were called to a block of flats on Leda Road in Woolwich near the Greenwich Peninsulaat around 1:40pm on November 15.
Around 40 fire firefighters in six fire engines attended the scene, along with police.
The fire had started in one of the flats on the sixth floor in a 10-storey block.
The bedroom of the flat was badly damaged by the fire, but luckily the resident of the flat was alerted by a smoke alarm and was able to escape by the fire brigade arrived.
There were no reports of any injuries, and the Brigade's fire investigators believe the fire was caused by a candle.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Candles are one of the most common causes of fire.
“It’s really important that you never leave a candle unattended and keep them away from anything else that can easily catch fire.
"Fortunately the resident was alerted to this fire by a smoke alarm, so this is also a timely reminder of the importance of having smoke alarms fitted throughout your home.
"They give the earliest possible warning of fire and provide time to escape.
“You should have working smoke alarms in every room where a fire can start, for example any room where appliances are plugged in, plus a heat alarm in the kitchen and the bathroom. They should be tested regularly.”
Firefighters' candle safety top tips:
• Make sure you put out any candles, incense and oil burners when you leave the room and especially before bed.
• Place candles, incense and oil burners in heat-resistant holders and placed on a stable surface where they won't be knocked over.
• Keep them away from materials that might catch fire - that's things like curtains, furniture, clothes and hair.
• Be aware that tea lights get very hot and without proper holders can melt through plastic surfaces like a TV or bath.
• Led candles can be a great alternative - they're safe even if you fall asleep or forget to blow them out.
NEWS: Emergency services are responding to an incident in #Woolwich Dockyard this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/prJaeP3g0c
— Maritime Radio (@maritimeLDN) November 15, 2020
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