A house fire in New Malden, started by a heater, prompts urgent safety advice from the fire brigade. One man was rescued.
The fire damaged half of the ground floor. Firefighters saved a man from upstairs, using a special smoke hood. Paramedics helped him at the scene.
They think a fan heater started the fire. It seems like it was an accident.
The fire call came in after 2:30 AM. Four fire engines raced to the scene, where about 25 firefighters helped put it out. It took about an hour.
Firefighters are worried about heating fires because energy costs are super high right now and people use different ways to stay warm. They want everyone to be safe.
Keep heaters away from things that can burn, such as curtains, furniture, and paper. Never dry clothes on a heater and sit at least a meter away from it. Heaters can start fires easily, so watch kids carefully around them and place heaters where they won’t tip over, keeping pets away too.
Follow the instructions from the heater’s maker and make sure your heater is safety checked and in good working order. Always watch children around heaters.