Two women and a child hospitalised after possible chip pan flat fire

A child and two women were hospitalised at the weekend after a flat fire believed to have been caused by a chip pan.

The three were rescued from the flat in Thurlow Street, Southwark, by firefighters in the early hours of Sunday morning

They were found suffering from smoke inhalation and were rushed to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews.

Firefighters are warning of the dangers of leaving cooking unattended after a fire at a flat in Thurlow Street, Southwark.

The London Fire Brigade was called at around 1.40am and the fire was under control around an hour later.

A small part of the kitchen in a split level flat on the sixth and seventh floor was destroyed by fire.

The brigade’s fire investigators believe the fire was caused by a chip pan which was left unattended.

A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: “Fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home.

“Cooking should never be left unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.

“Chip pans and cooking with hot oil can be really dangerous and the risk increases when you start frying food more than once.

“All it can take is for you to become distracted for a few seconds and your cooking oil can quickly go up in flames.”

Five fire engines and around 35 firefighters from Old Kent Road, Wallington, Dockhead and Lambeth fire stations attended the scene.

The London Fire Brigade has since issued these tips for safer cooking:

• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire.
• Never fill a pan more than one third full of fat or oil.
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil – oil and water are a dangerous mix.
• If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• Try not to leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• Not feeling 100 per cent? Order a takeaway – if you’re very tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that might make you drowsy, it’s safer not to risk it.
• Be fabric aware – loose clothing can easily catch fire, so take care not to lean over a hot hob, and always keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.

(Picture: LFB)