Massive fire may have started in rental apartment's fridge-freezer

A blaze which threatened to destroy a block of apartments last week is thought to have started in a rental flat, possibly the result of a faulty fridge-freezer.

The case will once again add to the arguments for smoke detectors to be installed by law in all flats within blocks. The blaze is the latest to be reported in a spate of domestic fires suspected to have been started by fridge-freezer appliances.

The fire broke out in South Lodge, a seven-storey block of flats in affluent St John’s Wood, London. The fire is thought to have started in a third-floor flat.

Eight fire engines and over 40 firefighters attended the blaze, which took two hours to get under control. Four people, including two children, had to rescued by ladder and six adults had to be led to safety by fire crews. Altogether, 150 people were evacuated.

The block is managed by agents Parkgate Aspen who said they take fire safety in the blocks they manage very seriously, running training courses every quarter for all porterage staff.

A £750,000 refurbishment programme had only just been completed at the block. This meant that all fire safety measures in the building were up to date, including smoke alarms in the common parts and emergency lighting.

But the managing agents said more powers should be given to property managers, to give them control over fire precautions in individual flats.

A spokesman for the managing agents said: “As property managers, we should be allowed to install smoke alarms within the flats themselves.  

“As the fire officer pointed out, it takes time for the smoke from a flat fire to seep under the door and trigger the alarms in the common parts.  

“The property management industry needs to recognise the benefits of smoke alarms in individual flats for the block as a whole.”