Pan cooking stock bones overnight starts Highgate house fire

A woman who had three defective smoke alarms fitted in her home was saved by firefighters after a meal she left cooking overnight set alight.

The woman woke at around 6.45am on Thursday, May 3 to find her home in Pond Square, Highgate, full of smoke and called the fire brigade. Crews from Kentish Town rescued her from a top floor bedroom and brought the blaze under control.

The woman was treated by ambulance crews at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Early investigations show the fire started in the kitchen after the woman left a stewing pan on the hob as she was cooking bones for a stock.

The fire brigade warned residents to ensure they have working smoke alarms in their homes after it was revealed the woman had three which were not in operation.

Sean Madeley, watch manager, said: “It is great to have so many alarms but they are no use to you if they don’t work.”

The brigade also warned against leaving cooking unattended.