Fire at takeaway - Hounslow

Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a takeaway restaurant with flats above on Kingsley Road in Hounslow.

The ducting from the ground floor to the roof was destroyed by the fire and a small part of the ground floor and roof were also damaged. One woman was led to safety by firefighters and was assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

Station Commander Richard Janssens, who was at the scene, said: "The fire started in the ground floor of the building and spread via the ducting.

"The road was closed and there was a lot of congestion locally so we advised people to avoid the area where possible."

The Brigade was called at 1102 and the fire was under control by 1207. Fire crews from Heston, Hayes, Feltham and Southall fire stations were at the scene.

The cause of the fire is believed to have been an unattended pan of oil which caught fire, and spread via the ducting where oil and fat had built up.

Firefighters' top tips for restaurants and takeaways:

• Have ducting in your extraction system (ventilation) cleaned regularly
• Ensure ducting is installed correctly
• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire
• 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