Hoarders with huge amounts of junk stashed in their homes are at risk being killed in an inferno if it catches alight, a fire brigade warned. More than 1,000 fires linked to hoarding have left 10 people dead and over 180 injured in London over the last year.
As a result the London Fire Brigade has warned the cost-of-living crisis could make the risk of devastating fires even worse. People living on the breadline with "hoarding tendencies" are even more at risk as they often try alternative cheaper ways to cook, heat and light their homes, the LFB said.
Experts warned hoarders who have too many possessions and find it hard to throw things away, risk leaving exit routes blocked and escape more difficult in a fire. Hoarders also often keep books and papers in their homes, which also adds to the fire risk and can cause a hazard for rescuers if a blaze breaks out.
Last year, the London Fire Brigade went to almost 1,040 hoarding-related fires, with around 186 injuries and 10 deaths. Last month, eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled a flat fire in Lewisham, south east London, where a large amount of possessions were stored.
The blaze just before 4am on April 14 meant 13 adults and two children had to be rescued by firefighters wearing breathing masks and a woman was rushed to hospital. Piles of possessions were left heaped outside the block of flats and the property was left uninhabitable following the blaze, the LFB said.
Fire investigators believe the inferno was caused by a portable heater placed too close to items stashed in the flat. Station Officer Samual Redfern, based in Millwall, south east London, warned firefighters are seeing a rise in people trying to find cheaper ways to heat and light their homes due to the cost of living crisis - often causing fires.
He said: "An incident that really stands out for me is a fire I attended early on in my career. It was an elderly lady and she had everything from toys to newspapers piled high in her home. As we got through the door, we had to crawl through a really small space to get into the property. It took us around 30 or 40 minutes to get safe access to the building. Everything was alright. Sadly, she died."
Another case saw a resident using a portable heater while their rooms were filled floor to ceiling with junk. Mr Redfern added: "We’re starting to see alternative methods being used for cooking, heating and lighting due to the rising cost of living.
"There’s always a fire risk when people use candles, portable stoves or portable heaters at home, but the risk is heightened for those with hoarding tendencies. For example, I’ve seen a number of people using portable heaters and their rooms are filled floor to ceiling with possessions.
"There needs to be sufficient space around heaters in order to use them safely, but when you don’t have that space and items are just so close to the heaters, the fire risk is really heightened. The same goes with cooking in a kitchen with possessions right next to the hob."
In a bid to prevent more fires, the brigade wants hoarders to seek help before it's too late. Mr Redfern added: "There are so many people with hoarding tendencies that we don’t know about, which is one of our biggest concerns.
"We are working with social care teams to identify people with hoarding tendencies in order to get them the care and help they need and are asking people to reach out to us for help by completing our Home Fire Safety Checker."
Last year the LFB received more than 1,600 hoarding referrals and the brigade is worried this figure could rise due to rising prices and spiralling energy bills. In one harrowing case, firefighters had difficulty getting inside the house - making the rescue even more risky.
Daniel Pearson, station commander for Shadwell and Whitechapel in east London, said: "When there are a lot of stored possessions in a property, it takes much longer for us to tackle fires because we have to clear out rooms. In one fire I attended, the house was nearly impossible to gain entry to. It was an older gentleman, and he was completely devastated that his personal belongings were damaged by the fire.
"There are far more risks for us too because of the trip hazards and the heightened risk of building collapse as possessions soak up water. Our firefighters are going into incredibly difficult environments to navigate and it’s a challenge to get fire crews out safely."
Hoarding is usually brought to the brigade's attention through home fire safety visits, or after a fire breaks out, or through referrals from councils or social services.
Richard Tapp, borough commander for Tower Hamlets in east London, described a fire where there was virtually no space for a smoke alarm due to the amount of possessions in the home. He said: "I’ve been to houses where it’s only the hallway where they can physically put a smoke alarm.
"It’s difficult because there is no quick fix, but if we can do something, whether that’s put up smoke alarms, give advice or clear an escape route, then every little helps. This is where identifying those who may have hoarding tendencies is important, because this is a gradual process and there are still risks that will remain after we have been.
"That way, if we need to attend a fire at the building, our crews know what they’re going into and can work to mitigate the risks."
Anyone who hoards, or who knows someone who does, can fill in the Home Fire Safety Checker to get help, the brigade said.
