Fire at takeaway - Brixton

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire on Acre Lane in Brixton.

Part of a takeaway restaurant, with homes above, was damaged by fire. There have been no reports of any injuries at this time.

The fire is believed to have been caused by the accidental ignition of hot oil. 

A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ""Fires are more likely to start in the kitchen than any other room in the home.

"Cooking should never be left unattended on the hob or grill - if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat. 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.”

The Brigade's Control Officers took the first of five calls about the fire at 1241 and the fire was extinguished by 1338. Crews from Clapham, Norbury, West Norwood and Dowgate fire stations attended the scene.

Practical steps for safer cooking:

• Take extra care when cooking with hot oil as it can easily overheat and catch fire.
• Never fill a 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.
• If the oil starts to smoke, it’s too hot. Turn off the heat and leave it to cool.
• Try not to leave cooking unattended on the hob or grill – if you have to leave the kitchen, turn off the heat.
• Not feeling 100%? Order a takeaway – if you're very tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that might make you drowsy, it's safer not to risk it.
• Be fabric aware – loose clothing can easily catch fire, so take care not to lean over a hot hob, and always keep tea towels and cloths away from the cooker and hob.