Surge in fires hitting stairwells and communal areas in flat blocks

Cluttered communal areas of the capital's flat blocks are being hit by more than one fire every day, the London Fire Brigade has warned.

Bikes, mattresses and buggies are blocking fire escape routes, hampering firefighter rescues and can even spark fires, the brigade said.

A total of 514 fires occurred in purpose built and high rise blocks in 2013/14 - a 14 per cent rise on last year's number. Nine people were killed and 134 injured in the blazes.

London Fire Brigade Assistant Commissioner Steve Turek said: “It’s the responsibility of landlords to keep communal areas clear and ensure their property has a suitable fire safety plan. Residents can help by not storing bikes, buggies and other items in communal areas because these can cause fires that can spread quickly.

“Parking a pushchair or a bike outside your flat might seem like a practical solution but in the event of a fire it becomes a dangerous obstacle that can slow down firefighters trying to reach a fire and residents trying to escape it.”

Each purposed built and high rise block has a designated person to execute a risk assessment to assist in fire prevention. The LFB launched their Know The Plan campaign to augment this prevention.