Firefighters have issued advice for restaurant owners after a restaurant fire on Edgware Road in Paddington.
A small part of the exterior ducting (extraction system) at the rear end of a ground floor restaurant in a four storey mid-terraced building with dwellings above was damaged by fire. Around 25 people were evacuated from the restaurant by fire crews. No injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental and involved cooking.
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."
“This is also a timely reminder of just how important it is to have working smoke alarms in your property and to test them regularly.”
The Brigade was called at 1905 and the fire was under control at 2021. Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Paddington, Euston and Kensington fire stations attended the scene.
Firefighters' top tips for restaurants and takeaways: