Hairdryer Sparks Fire at Bexleyheath Care Home Salon
A hairdryer is believed to have caused a blaze that tore through a hairdresser’s salon on the ground floor of Parkview Care Home on Woolwich Road, Bexleyheath.
Massive Fire Response as Flames Rip Through Salon
At 11:40 a.m. on March 31, eight fire engines and 60 firefighters rushed to the scene. Heavy smoke clogged the ground floor. Firefighters in breathing apparatus rescued four people, who were rushed to hospital after inhaling smoke. Three more were escorted to safety by crews on site.
By 1:02 p.m., the fire was under control. Around 30 residents had evacuated before firefighters arrived.
Emergency Services Slam Danger of Hot Hair Tools
Remember that hairdryers, hair tongs, and straighteners can get extremely hot,” warned a London Fire Brigade spokesperson. “Always switch them off and place them on a heatproof surface to cool.”
“The Brigade was called at 11:26 and the fire was under control by 13:02.”
Fire crews from Sidcup, Eltham, Bexley, and East Greenwich helped tackle the blaze. The Metropolitan Police closed Woolwich Road during the emergency response, working alongside London Ambulance Service teams.
Smoke Inhalation Sends Four to Hospital
A London Ambulance spokesperson said: “Four ambulance crews, three incident response officers, one advanced paramedic, and members of our Hazardous Area Response Team attended the scene. We treated five people for smoke inhalation and transported four to hospital.”
This incident serves as a stark reminder of fire risks in care homes and the dangers posed by everyday electrical appliances if left unattended.
