A flat in North Kensington was left badly damaged after a fire broke out, believed to be caused by candles. The blaze gutted part of a three-roomed apartment on the first floor, but thankfully, no one was injured.
Flames Sparked by Forgotten Candles
London Fire Brigade was called to the scene just before midnight and managed to bring the fire under control within an hour. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from North Kensington, Paddington, and Kensington rushed in to tackle the blaze.
Fire Brigade Issues Candle Warning
A spokesperson from the Brigade urged residents to be vigilant with candles. “Never leave candles unattended or near anything flammable like curtains, furniture, or clothes,” they warned.
They also recommended swapping traditional candles for safer LED flameless ones. “If you do use real candles, please follow our simple safety tips to avoid disasters,” the spokesperson added.
Top Candle Safety Tips
- Always extinguish candles, incense, and oil burners before leaving the room or going to bed.
- Use heat-resistant holders and place candles on stable surfaces where they won’t be knocked over.
- Keep flames well away from curtains, furniture, clothes, and hair.
- Tea lights get extremely hot; without proper holders, they can melt plastic surfaces like TVs or baths.
- Keep candles and flames out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidents.
