Homemade lava lamp causes injuries

Two people were injured last week when an experiment to create homemade lava lamps went wrong.

Firefighters from London Fire Brigade were called to reports of an explosion and fire at a flat in Bethnal Green in east London last Friday night.

Two fire engines and 10 firefighters from nearby Shoreditch fire station rushed to the scene to find a man and woman outside the flat with burns to their hands.

On entering the flat, the firefighters realised that they had been attempting to make their own lava lamps by melting paraffin wax candles in a cooking pan on the hob. The Brigade’s fire investigators were also called to establish what caused the fire and explosion.

The explosion was so large it caused a window frame and a large number of bricks to blow out of the ground floor flat.

The Brigade was called to the incident at 11.25pm on Friday 23 March. The residents, who are both thought to be in their twenties, were treated at the scene for minor burns by London Ambulance Service.

Unfortunately, homemade lava lamp recipes can be found all too easily on the internet. London Fire Brigade’s fire safety experts warn strongly against making lava lamps as it poses a serious fire risk.