An elderly man had a lucky escape when a smoke alarm alerted him to a fire in his house on Boundary Rd, Haringey, yesterday afternoon. Thanks to the alarm he was able to leave the property before the Brigade arrived and was uninjured.

Most of the first floor was destroyed in the blaze.

21 firefighters and officers attended the fire with engines from Tottenham and Hornsey fire stations.

The cause of the fire is not known but it is believed to have been a halogen heater placed too close to bedding.

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said:

“Portable heaters should never be placed close to bedding As it gets colder, the temptation is to huddle closer to your heater but that could be a dangerous mistake.

“Over two thirds of fatal fires involving heaters are caused by clothing or furniture being too close. People need to make sure their portable heaters are standing upright and kept well away from clothes, curtains or furniture.”

The Brigade was called at 1322 and fire was under control by 1429.