A bedroom was gutted by fire after a mirror placed on a sunny windowsill set alight a pair of curtains.
Three fire engines from Wimbledon, Mitcham and New Malden were called to Beaulieu Close in Mitcham on Wednesday, July 24, after a resident returned to find smoke billowing from a bedroom window.
A fire investigation team later found that a mirror had been placed lying flat on a window sill which had reflected the rays of the sun onto her curtains and set them alight.
Stuart Ledgerwood, crew manager of white watch, said: "It developed into a fire in that whole room and was only stopped from spreading because the door had been shut.
"We put the fire out and fortunately no one was in the property at the time.
"Unfortunately there was very little to salvage from the room itself.
"Mirrors, especially the ones that have a magnifying effect, if left in a position where they are reflecting the sun can be very dangerous and the results can be catastrophic."
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