A fire has destroyed a semi-detached house and a car in New Malden, a suburb of south west London. The blaze erupted yesterday at around 9.35pm, engulfing the ground floor and first floor of the home on Mount Pleasant Road. Photographs shared by the fire brigade show the fire, which raged until 1am today, ate a large hole in the roof.
Fire engulfs two-storey home and carport
Charred solar panels can also be seen, with the now burnt insulation covering the front of the two-storey building also exposed. A car parked in the front garden and the carport – which shelters vehicles from rain or snow – were both destroyed. A gas cylinder was removed from the property and ‘cooled it to an ambient temperature as a precaution, as some cylinders can explode when exposed to heat’, the fire brigade said in an incident report.
Crews tackle blaze from above
No one was injured. The cause of the fire is unclear. Station Commander Steve McGhie, who was at the scene, said the 70-strong crew had to tackle the blaze from above. ‘The fire was producing smoke that affected the local area,’ he added. ‘Residents nearby were advised to keep their windows and doors closed where possible.'
The fire brigade incident report highlighted the precautionary removal of the gas cylinder, which was cooled to ambient temperature to prevent potential explosion. The fire caused significant structural damage to the property, including a large hole in the roof and exposed insulation on the front of the building.
Local residents advised to stay indoors
Residents in the vicinity were advised to keep windows and doors closed due to the smoke affecting the local area. The fire brigade did not provide further details on the cause, which remains under investigation. No injuries were reported, and the fire was brought under control by 1am.
