London fire chiefs warn against fires in homes to save on heating bills

Photo issued by the London fire brigade shows damage to a house in New Malden, south-west London, caused by an open fire. Photograph: London fire brigade/PA

People should not try to reduce their energy bills by improvising open fires at home, fire chiefs have warned, after a man in south-west London set fire to his property by burning timber in his living room to keep warm.

The man was trying to avoid putting on the central heating in his home, fire investigators said.