London Fire Brigade (LFB) is reminding people to take extra care with fireworks following a series of incidents as Londoners rang in the New Year, including a blaze at a shop with dwellings above on Myddelton Road in Southgate.
Three fire engines and around 20 firefighters attended the scene.
A man escaped before the brigade arrived, and two others were rescued from the first floor with a ladder.
Another man was led to safety using a fire escape hood.
All four were treated at the scene by the London Ambulance Service.
An LFB spokesperson said: “Following a spate of firework-related calls and incidents around New Year’s Eve, we want to remind Londoners that fireworks are explosives which should be handled with extreme caution.
“Our advice is not to host your own fireworks display and instead to find a safer, organised display nearby.”
The fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by a stray firework.
LFB recorded around 28 firework-related incidents across the capital that night.
These included fires involving fireworks in Eltham, Bow, Romford and Walthamstow, burning rubbish in Barnet and Lewisham and boxes of fireworks set alight in areas including Harrow, Sutton and Stratford.
Fire escape hoods used by the brigade offer up to 15 minutes of protection from four main fire gases.
A second hood can be provided if more time is needed.
The fire was reported at 12.08am and crews from Southgate, Hornsey and Tottenham attended.
It was extinguished by 1.37am.
Meanwhile, London’s public New Year fireworks display drew mixed reviews from the crowd, with some describing the event as disappointing.
Many criticised the lack of entertainment and amenities, as well as crowd management outside the main viewing areas.
