Mischievous Tortoise Blamed for Flat Fire in Mitcham
A cheeky tortoise sparked a blaze after toppling a heat lamp in its enclosure, causing a fire in a London flat.
Heat Lamp Toppled, Hay Catches Fire
The drama unfolded just before midday on Thursday, 10 July, in a fourth-floor maisonette on London Road, Mitcham. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed the heat lamp knocked over by the tortoise fell onto hay inside its aquarium, igniting the flames.
Firefighters from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting, and Wallington rushed to the scene at 11:40am. They brought the fire under control swiftly by 12:22pm.
Tortoise and Dog Saved from Flames
Two pets were trapped in the flat during the blaze – the naughty tortoise and a dog hiding under the stairs. Fire crews rescued both animals unharmed and returned them to their relieved owner.
“A mischievous tortoise and his canine friend were rescued last week from a fire in Mitcham,” said a London Fire Brigade spokesperson on X (formerly Twitter). “The fire was caused by the naughty tortoise knocking over his heat lamp, which fell onto the hay — a combustible material — in his aquarium.”
LFB Warns Pet Owners: Secure Heat Lamps or Face Fiery Risk
The fire service issued a stern warning to pet owners about the dangers of unsecured heat lamps and flammable bedding like hay or sawdust often found in pet enclosures.
“It is really important that heat lamps are secured properly to prevent them from being accidentally knocked over,” said an LFB spokesperson. “When not in use, make sure they are switched off to avoid overheating.”
Pet owners are urged to double-check all enclosures for fire hazards and ensure heating devices are firmly mounted and monitored.
