Man escapes uninjured after chip pan fire (From Croydon Guardian)

Man escapes uninjured after chip pan fire in Pixton Way, Selsdon

11:30am Monday 8th October 2012 in News

A man was lucky to escape uninjured after a chip pan fire in his flat last night.

Firefighters from New Addington fire station were called the block in Pixton Way, Selsdon at 10.40pm.

Crews in breathing apparatus were able to get into the flat quickly and extinguish the fire.

It is understood the occupant, who fell asleep cooking, had a smoke alarm in his property but the battery had been removed.

He escaped the flat before the firefighters arrived, but was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene.

Watch Manager Tony Weeks said: "It is all very well having a smoke alarm but make sure it is working.

"It was the communal alarm that went off, the chap was very lucky. Had his smoke alarm been working he would have been alerted earlier.

"We do home fire safety visits free of charge where we give advice and make sure there are working smoke alarms, this chap hadn't been visited."

To book a home fire safety visit ring 0800 284 428 or visit london-fire.gov.uk