Fire at restaurant with flats above – Eltham

Firefighters are issuing a cooking safety reminder after a fire at a restaurant with flats above on Well Hall Road in Eltham.

Part of a commercial kitchen at the rear of a mid-terraced restaurant was damaged by fire. Part of the ground floor and the ventilation system were also damaged by the blaze. Two people left the building before the Brigade arrived. Firefighters led four people to safety from an above flat via an external staircase. One woman was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation.

The Brigade’s Fire Investigators believe the fire was caused by hot oil that was left on the hob.

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ““Chip pans and cooking with hot oil can be really dangerous and the risk increases when you start frying food more than once.

“All it can take is for you to become distracted for a few seconds and your cooking oil can quickly go up in flames.”

Firefighters' top tips for restaurants and takeaways:

• Have ducting in your extraction system (ventilation) cleaned regularly
• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire
• Ensure ducting is installed correctly
• Make sure all electrical items are tested and maintained- check regularly and don’t allow employees to bring their own kitchen appliances to work
• Never fill the pan more than one third full of fat or oil
• Make sure food is dry before putting it in hot oil- oil and water are a dangerous mix
• Use an electronic deep fat fryer if possible- they have automatic temperature controls and are much safer
• Ensure your electrical system is regularly tested
• Complete your Fire Risk Assessment and make an emergency plan

The Brigade was called at 1835 and the fire was under control by 1956. Fire crews from Eltham, Lee Green and East Greenwich fire stations attended the scene.