Fire in Near Charing Cross Hospital Prompts Smoke Alarm Warning
Flat in Parfrey Street gutted in blaze caused by discarded cigarette
Picture: London Fire Brigade
September 17, 2025
Firefighters have issued a renewed warning about the importance of smoke alarms following a house fire on Parfrey Street, a residential road located close to Charing Cross Hospital, just across Fulham Palace Road.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight on Tuesday 16 September, prompting a response from four fire engines and approximately 25 firefighters from Hammersmith, Fulham, and Kensington fire stations. The blaze partially destroyed the ground floor flat of a terraced house and completely consumed a pile of rubbish in the front garden.
According to the London Fire Brigade, three people managed to leave the building before crews arrived. One man reportedly smelt burning and alerted his family, enabling their escape. A woman and a toddler were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by London Ambulance Service personnel.
The property did not have any smoke detection systems installed. Leading Firefighter Dan Biniaz, who attended the incident, emphasised the critical role of early warning systems. “This incident shows just how important it is to have working smoke alarms fitted on every level of your home,” he said. “This family were very lucky that one of the residents smelt smoke and woke up.”
He added that smoke alarms should be installed in every room where a fire could start, excluding kitchens and bathrooms, where heat alarms are more appropriate.
The Brigade’s 999 Control officers received the first call at 12:15 am, and the fire was brought under control in just over an hour. Investigators believe the fire was caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials in the rubbish pile outside the property.
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