Firefighters have issued a warning to Ealing residents to pay attention to the safety of portable fan heaters following a house fire on Park View Road in Ealing on Saturday (11 March 2023).
The London Fire Brigade was called at 4.06pm and the fire was under control by 5.19pm. Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters from Ealing, Acton, Park Royal, Wembley and Chiswick fire stations attended the scene.
A bedroom on the first floor was damaged by fire. A man was rescued by firefighters from a third floor roof terrace before being taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews. Two women left the property before firefighters arrived and were treated by ambulance crews.
The fire is being treated as accidental and is believed to have been caused by a fan heater being left too close to materials.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Fan heaters should always be used in an uncluttered space where heat and air flow is unrestricted. It’s also absolutely vital that heaters are kept well away from curtains, furniture, paperwork and are never used to dry clothes. Always sit at least a metre away from the heater, particularly those using them whilst working from home, as it could set fire to your clothes or your chair and position them where they won’t be knocked over and away from pets.”
Firefighters’ tips for using portable heaters:
- Make sure heaters are well maintained and in good working order.
- Check that your heater isn’t on a recall list – there have been many fires in the past year connected to heaters that have been recalled.
- Never install, repair or service appliances yourself.
- Keep heaters well away from clothes, curtains and furniture and never use them for drying clothes.
- Always sit at least one metre away from a heater as it could set light to your clothes or chair.
- Before attempting to move your heater, turn it off and allow it to cool first.
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