Firefighters have issued a reminder of their ducting safety advice following a fire at a restaurant with dwellings above in Walthamstow.
The ducting within the extraction system from ground to first floor was destroyed by the fire. Part of the ground floor restaurant kitchen and a small part of an external flat roof at first floor level were also damaged by the fire. Two people were taken to hospital and a third person was treated on scene by London Ambulance Service.
The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the ignition of grease in the ducting by a charcoal ember.
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 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."
Control Officers took the first of 13 calls at 0729 and mobilised four fire engines and around 25 firefighters from Walthamstow and Leyton fire stations to the scene. The incident was over for firefighters at 0849.
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.