'Naughty' tortoise sparks fire at home in south London

Firefighters with the tortoise and dog after the fire at property in Mitcham -

A tortoise was rescued by firefighters after causing a fire at his south London home by knocking over his heat lamp, setting fire to the hay in his tank.

The “naughty” reptile and a dog, another pet in the property, were rescued last week from a fire on London Road in Mitcham, the London Fire Brigade said.

The Brigade was called to the fire at a maisonette on the fourth floor of a residential block of flats on Thursday 10 July, where firefighters found a small fire in one room.

After being made aware that there were two pets in the property, crews found and rescued the tortoise and the dog who was hiding under the stairs.

Both animals were returned safely to their thankful owner.

The Brigade was called at 11.40am and the fire was under control by 12.22pm.

Crews from Mitcham, Wimbledon, Tooting and Wallington Fire Stations attended the scene.

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