Firefighters are urging people to check they have working smoke alarms in their homes after a house fire on St Leonard’s Avenue, Chingford.

A loft conversion of a semi-detached house was completely damaged by fire. Part of the first floor was also damaged. One woman left the property before the arrival of the Brigade and was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service crews.

The fire is believed to be accidental and caused by a fault in a boiler.

Watch Manager Jim Camp, who was at the scene, said: “There was a smoke alarm on the first floor landing but it operated after the fire was discovered and there were no smoke alarms in the loft conversion, so the occupant had a lucky escape.

“Homes need multiple smoke alarms or you won’t be properly covered. Ideal spots for smoke alarms include rooms where you leave electrical equipment running like satellite boxes, computers or heaters.

“As a minimum you should have smoke alarms on every floor – in the hallways and in the rooms you use the most.”

The Brigade was called at 0219 and the fire was under control by 0325.  Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Woodford, Chingford, Walthamstow, Leytonstone fire stations attended the scene.