Fire chiefs have issued a safety warning for residents to check their electrical goods and ensure they have working smoke alarms after London’s worst house fire in a decade.

Merton’s fire chief issued a fresh safety warning after a mother and her five children died and two more people were injured in the fire in Neasden, north-west London, in the early hours of Saturday, September 24.

An investigation has been launched into how the fire started, but it is believed a faulty electrical appliance was involved.

London Fire Brigade’s borough commander for Merton, Jane Philpott, said: “Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of those who died and we will continue to do all we can to stop such fires happening.

“Everyone should make sure they have a smoke alarm and check regularly that it works. If you notice anything strange about any of your electrical appliances, call a repair man and never overload plug sockets.”

Ms Philpott’s warning comes after the head of Mitcham fire station revealed 60 per cent of accidental fires in Merton start in the kitchen and that in April and May this year, they accounted for all but one of house fires in the borough.

Station commander Peter Martin said: “It is so easy to get distracted while cooking – the doorbell can go, the phone rings, children can distract us, or we leave the room to do other chores while food is cooking.

“A significant number of cooking-related fires start when people come home from an evening at the pub after consuming alcohol, start to cook something and then fall asleep on the sofa.

“The next thing they know is being woken by fire-fighters, surrounded by thick black smoke, or waking up in a hospital bed.”

On Tuesday evening, fire crews from Wimbledon and New Malden were called to a mansion in the Grange, Wimbledon Village, when its fire alarm was triggered after the resident left a piece of toast burning in their grill.

A crew member of Wimbledon fire station’s blue watch said: “I think they were pretty embarrassed about it but we always remind them that it’s better to be safe than sorry – we are always there to help.”

To contact the fire brigade about home safety checks and to get a free smoke alarm installed at home, call 0800 028 4428 or email smokealarms@london-fire.gov.uk.

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