A BLOCK of flats had to be evacuated after a sweet potato sparked a kitchen fire this morning.
Firefighters were called to the Merlin Lodge flats on Southcote Lane earlier today.
Watch manager Jim Fernie at Dee Road fire station said the flats had three communal kitchens, one of each floor.
"Because of the nature of the building no one was sure if other people were in there," he said.
"We treated it like there were missing people. We sent in two teams with breathing apparatus.
"Everyone had made it out when we arrived. The kitchen was 80 to 90 per cent damaged."
Hallways around the kitchen were damaged by smoke.
He said the fire was caused after a sweet potato was left in the microwave for too long.
He warned people not to leave cooking unattended, even in a microwave.
Fire crews from Dee Road, Whitley Wood and Wokingham Road were called to the scene at 10.45.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article