Residents in an Ilford block of flats, were ”quite lucky” a fire caused by an unattended candle did not become more serious this afternoon, according to a fire fighter.
Five people had to be evacuated from the flats in Empress Avenue shortly after midday after the fire started in a ground floor flat.
No-one was in the flat where the candle had been left and the fire had been smouldering for “some time”, according to Martin Knight, the watch manager at Ilford fire station.
He added that there was a lot of smoke in the flat but firefighters were able to get the fire quickly under control.
Mr Knight said: “The residents were quite lucky it never picked up and became more serious.”
No-one had to be treated as a result of the fire.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here