Warning follows restaurant fire believed to have started in extraction system
London Fire Brigade has issued a reminder to keep extraction ducting clean after a fire broke out in a restaurant in Petts Wood, London, on Sunday evening.
Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters tackled the blaze at a restaurant with flats above in Queensway.
Around 15 people left the building before firefighters arrived. Several people were assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews but none are believed to have required hospital treatment.
Ducting running from the ground floor to the first floor was destroyed by fire. Half of the restaurant's kitchen and part of a first-floor flat were also damaged.
Station commander Simon Chalk, who was at the scene, said: "Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus worked hard to bring the fire under control and then fully extinguish the blaze and dampen down any hotspots."
The fire is being treated as accidental and is believed to have been caused by the ignition of grease and fat deposits within the extraction system, most likely from the use of a charcoal pit in the kitchen.
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."
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
