Fire at restaurant with flats above – Tottenham

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at a restaurant with flats above on Grand Parade in Tottenham.

Part of the ground floor kitchen and the extraction system were damaged by fire. There were no reports of any injuries.

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”

The Brigade was called at 2037 and the fire was under control by 2159. Fire crews from Holloway, Hornsey and Tottenham fire stations attended the scene.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and involved a charcoal grill.

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.