The resulting blaze destroyed the kitchen of the Mulgrave Road flat
A fire broke out in a Sutton flat after a couple left a saucepan on a hob when they went out.
The resulting blaze destroyed the kitchen of the Mulgrave Road flat and caused the rest of the second floor to be evacuated because of severe smoke-logging at 1.30pm on Thursday.
Crews from Sutton and Wallington fire stations were called to the fire and used breathing apparatus to get close to the fire before putting it out with a hose.
A spokesman for Sutton fire station said the blaze was caused by a pan that had been left on the hob when the couple went out.
The spokesman said the flat did not have a working smoke alarm, meaning the alert was not raised until the fire became so severe smoke was pouring from the flat's window.
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