Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a takeaway restaurant with flats above on Katherine Road in East Ham.
The ducting within the extraction system in the ground-floor kitchen was destroyed. Part of a flat roof at the rear of the property was also damaged by fire. Eight people left the building before the Brigade arrived. 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.
"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’s Control Officers took the first call to the fire at 1543 and mobilised crews from East Ham, Plaistow, Stratford and Barking fire stations to the scene. The fire was under control by 1700.
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.