London Fire Brigade have asked members of the public to not try and tackle fires themselves but to instead get out of the property and call 999.
The stark reminder comes following a fire in a block of flats in Islington last night that was started after some candles came into contact with bedding.
Thanks to the quick response of the London Fire Brigade, no-one was injured in the blaze that took several hours to fight before the fire was under control.
A statement of the London Fire Brigades website said:
‘Firefighters have issued a warning to not delay in calling the Brigade after a fire at a flat in Mitchison Road in Islington last night.
A man awoke to see flames at the end of his bed before a smoke alarm sounded and alerted the two other occupants of the flat to the fire.
The three residents attempted to fight the fire themselves and the Brigade was called by a neighbour who heard a smoke alarm sounding and saw flames coming from the first floor.
After their attempts to extinguish the fire were unsuccessful, the three occupants left the property.
Watch manager Mel Anderson, who was at the scene, said: “Crews worked really hard to bring the fire under control quickly and they contained the fire to the room of origin.
“It is vitally important that you do not attempt to tackle fires yourselves and to leave it to the professionals. As soon as you become aware of a fire in your property, get out, stay out and call 999.”
All three occupants of the flat were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews for smoke inhalation and one occupant was taken to hospital for further treatment.
The Brigade was called at 2333 and the fire was under control at 0103. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Islington, Shoreditch, Stoke Newington and Homerton fire stations attended the scene.
The fire is believed to have been caused as a candle coming into contact with bedding.’
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In this case it is just a pity that one of the occupants did not call the fore brigade while the others made an attempt to douse the fire.