Firefighters are warning restaurant and takeaway owners to ensure they clean their extraction systems to prevent fires. It follows an incident where six fire engines and around 40 firefighters were called to a fire at a fish and chip shop on High Road in Woodford Green.
Part of the ground floor shop was damaged by fire and the ducting (the ventilation system), which runs from the ground to the second floor of the building, was completely destroyed.
One man evacuated before the Brigade arrived. He was suffering from smoke inhalation and received treatment on scene by London Ambulance Service. A further two people evacuated from the flats above the shop, they were not injured by the fire.
Fire investigators believe the cause of the fire was accidental and due to the ignition of oil residue in a pan, which spread into ducting.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: "We'd like to remind restaurant and takeaway owners to ensure they don't have dirty ducting. If you don't clean the ducting in your extraction system regularly, you're at a greater risk of ducting fires.
"You should also make sure you keep the hob, cooker hood and extractor fan clean too – built up fat and grease can ignite and cause a fire."
The Brigade was called at 1253 and the fire was under control by 1403. Fire crews from Walthamstow, Chingford, Leytonstone, Leyton and Stratford fire stations were at the scene.