Warning issued after heater fire in student flat

Firefighters have issued a warning after a portable heater went up in flames inside a student flat in Leicester city centre.

Crews from Eastern, Central and Birstall Fire Stations were called to a third-floor flat on Newarke Street at 10:14 GMT on Thursday.

On arrival, the fire in the kitchen area had been extinguished by the occupants and one person was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze was caused accidentally by a towel being left near a portable heater.

Fire crews have issued a warning to residents around the use of portable heaters inside the home.

They said to keep clothes, curtains and furniture away from the devices and to never use them for drying clothes.

Always unplug electric heaters when they are not in use and when people go to bed, they added.

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