A hairdryer left on is believed to have caused a serious blaze which has badly damaged a family’s home on Hook Rise North in Tolworth last night.
Fire investigators say early indications are that a hairdryer had been left on when the electricity cut out. The hairdryer then came back to life once the electricity meter had been recharged. The fire started in the bedroom and the occupant was alerted to the fire when a passer by noticed flames coming from the window.
There are a number of fire safety messages the Brigade would like to highlight following Friday’s fire:
• People tried to tackle the fire themselves but were beaten back by heat and smoke. If you have a fire in your home; get out, stay out and call 999 immediately. Never tackle it yourself, always leave it to the professionals.
• It appears that there were no working smoke alarms in the property. Smoke alarms are vital as they give you an early warning should a fire happen in your home. Make sure you have at least one on every level of your home and regularly test it.
• Remember to turn heat producing electrical appliances off at the plug when you’ve finished with them.
Two men were treated for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service crews and taken to hospital as a precaution.
The Brigade was called at 1931and the fire was under control by 2009. Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers from New Malden, Surbiton, Kingston and one from Surrey Fire and Rescue Service.