Six fire engines attended the blaze near the top of an 18-storey block of flats in Arboretum Place
London Fire Brigade (LFB) is reminding people about the importance of putting cigarettes out safely following a fire in Barking yesterday (Wednesday 29th).
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters attended the blaze near the top of an 18-storey block of flats in Arboretum Place shortly before 12pm.
The balcony for a flat on the 16th floor was destroyed by the fire. Two people left the building before crews arrived and were assessed on scene for smoke inhalation.
One of the brigade’s 64-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as an observation tower to provide the incident commander with an aerial view of the fire.
The fire was extinguished by 1.11pm.
A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “These incidents are a stark reminder that smoking is still one of the leading causes of fire in London.
“While we’d rather you didn’t smoke at all, if you are a smoker, it’s vital you make sure that your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it and disposed of responsibly. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire which could not only destroy your home but also cost you your life.
“A single careless act, such as a discarded cigarette, can have devastating consequences – threatening lives, destroying multiple homes and displacing families in a matter of minutes.
“If you are smoking on a balcony, remember that non-smokers are reliant on others to put their cigarettes right out when they’ve finished them. Make sure you dispose of your smoking materials safely in an ashtray and never drop ash or throw cigarettes from balconies.
“If you’re worried about a neighbour’s cigarette setting your balcony alight, you can reduce the risk by clearing any flammable items from the area.”
“Firefighters recommend that you have a look at our online Home Fire Safety Checker to make sure there are no hidden hazards in your home.
“The online tool will ask you a series of questions that will help us work out the level of risk in your home, or the home of someone you care for. It only takes a few minutes to get tailored advice to keep yourself and loved ones safe from fire.”
