Fresh Christmas candle warning after spate of fires

Londoners are being warned against using candles after a spate of fires over the festive period.

One woman was taken to hospital after a fire broke out at a house in Edmonton, north London, on Saturday evening. This came two days after fires at a house in Hayes, south-east London, and another one in Croydon, south London.

Meanwhile on Christmas Eve, about 40 firefighters attended a fire at a maisonette in Peckham, with two adults treated for smoke inhalation.

All four fires were believed to have been caused by lit candles left unattended.

Richard Arnold, deputy assistant commissioner at London Fire Brigade (LFB) said: "Fires can cause devastation all year round, but this is heightened around Christmas with families potentially left homeless and possessions destroyed.

"We want to ensure Londoners take every precaution to prevent fires from spoiling the festive period."

The brigade has reissued its warning which it had initially released on Christmas Eve following a fire in Stockwell.

The Edmonton blaze was attended by 25 firefighters after a fire had spread from a bedroom to the rest of the first-floor as well as the roof.

The fire in Hayes damaged parts of the first floor and saw three people leaving the house unharmed.

The Croydon fire happened at a flat on Elmwood Road after bedding caught on fire from a candle.

Three people escaped unhurt from the fourth-floor blaze.

The fire in Peckham on Christmas Eve drew 12 emergency calls, the LFB said.

The fire brigade is also warning people against leaving portable heaters near anything flammable after another house fire on Christmas Day, believed to have been caused by textiles left too close to a fan heater.

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