Firefighters had to rescue a man, a woman and a cat from a flat fire believed to have been caused by an unattended candle.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to Anne Street, Plaistow at 9.38pm on Sunday (June 4).

A man and a woman were rescued from a first-floor flat by firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, before being treated by London Ambulance Service crews.

The woman was taken to hospital for further treatment.

The LFB said that a cat was also rescued from the flat, which was damaged in the blaze.

A spokesperson for the Brigade added that the fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by an unattended candle.

The spokesperson said: “Candles are one of the most common causes of fire. It’s really important that you never leave a candle unattended and keep them away from anything else that can easily catch fire.”

It took fire crews Plaistow, Stratford and East Ham fire stations more than an hour to extinguish the blaze, with LFB confirming that the incident was not over until 10.48pm.

In total, three fire engines and 15 firefighters attended the scene.

LFB Candle Safety Tips

 

  • Keep candles/tea lights away from curtains, furniture and anything else that can catch fire
  • Keep loose clothing and hair away from candles/tea lights when they are lit
  • Always place your candles/tea lights in a suitable fire resistant candleholder 
  • Make sure the candleholder holds the candle/tea light firmly and is on a flat and stable surface to stop it falling over