Overview

• A tortoise knocked over its heat lamp onto a bed of hay in its enclosure on London Road in Mitcham, triggering the blaze at 11:40 am on Thursday.
• London Fire Brigade crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington stations brought the fire under control by 12:22 pm.
• Firefighters found a dog hiding under the stairs and rescued it alongside the tortoise before returning both animals safely to their owner.
• The flat sustained only light damage and LFB has confirmed there is no ongoing risk at the scene.
• The incident follows a recent surge in south London residential and industrial fires and underscores the need for greater awareness of heating risks in exotic pet enclosures.