A fire that led to the evacuation of a block of flats may have been caused by oily cloth that had been put through a tumble dryer.

Around 30 people evacuated a five-storey block of flats in Wenlock Road, Hackney, after the blaze broke out in a maisonette at 9.07pm yesterday (Tuesday, February 28).

A small part of a split-level maisonette on the fifth floor was damaged and the fire was under control at 9.47pm.

There were no reports of any injuries.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by oily textiles.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson explained: “These types of fires often involve textiles that become contaminated with oil, most commonly linseed, massage and cooking oil on tea towels, tablecloths and chef whites.

"Sometimes when materials are cleaned, put in tumble dryers and then folded and stacked, the heat from the tumble drying cannot escape. This can result in a high enough temperature allowing it to build up to a point where it smoulders and eventually ignites.

“If you are washing and then drying on a hot cycle, always use the cooling cycle on the tumble dryer so it cools down and allow the heat to dissipate properly, before stacking laundered items together.”

A total of six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled the blaze.

Fire crews from Islington, Shoreditch, Euston and Whitechapel fire stations attended the scene.

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