09/06/2015

LFB Urges People To Ensure They Have Smoke Alarms

London Fire Brigade has urged people to check the smoke alarms in their homes, following a fire in a block of flats in Lewisham.

A family of four were asleep in their flat when the smoke alarm alerted them to a fire in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The two adults and two children were able to escape the three-storey block of flats, along with 10 other residents. There were no reports of any injuries.

Watch Manager Chris Brown who was at the scene of the fire said: "The fire was well alight when crews arrived and flames were reaching up the side of the building to the roof. Firefighters worked very hard to stop it spreading to the flats above.

"The smoke alarm did its job and the four people were able to escape from their flat safely. If you don't have smoke alarms, get them right away, as it gives you a vital early warning in the event of a fire."

Half of the ground floor flat was destroyed in the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

(MH/JP)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

21 October 2004
Free fire alarms offered to England's deprived households
Over one million deprived hoouseholds in England are set to be offered free smoke alarms and fire safety advice as part of a £25 million fire prevention package announced today. Local fire and rescue authorities already carry out some free home fire safety checks, but new funding will see 1.
08 May 2009
Heroic Tyne Firemen Honoured
Two Tyne and Wear firefighters are to be recognised for their bravery at a special ceremony today. Andrew Nelson and Allan Richardson will be presented with the Chief Fire Officer's Commendations for brave and meritorious conduct after saving a man's life. The men took part in a dramatic rescue in the early hours of 4 February.
31 August 2006
Firefighters launch four-day strike
More than 1,000 firefighters across Merseyside have begun a four-day strike in protest over planned job cuts. Another four-day stoppage is scheduled to begin two hours after the first one ends.
25 November 2003
Royal Colleges urge smoking ban in public
A group of leading surgeons and medical experts have called for a nationwide ban on smoking in public places, in a letter sent to the Times Newspaper. The UK’s medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties stated in the letter that "the time has come for legislation to make public places smoke free".
03 March 2010
Suspicious Glasgow Car Fires
Detectives in Glasgow's East End are investigating a spate of vehicle fire attacks in the city yesterday. Shortly after 3.30am police were called to a report of a vehicle fire in Ashvale Crescent, Glasgow. Upon arrival police were advised by Strathclyde Fire Service that four vehicles had been damaged by fire.