A pizza chef was injured after attempting to tackle a fire in a restaurant in South Woodford in east London on Sunday afternoon. It’s thought the man sustained a burn to his hand, as well a bump to the head and smoke inhalation.
Fire chiefs have highlighted the incident to urge other would-be firefighters to take greater care. A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said:
“If a fire breaks out our advice is to get out and call 999, never try and tackle the blaze yourself. Attempting to fight fire without the correct skills and equipment can have catastrophic consequences and lead to injury and even worse. Fortunately this chap wasn’t seriously hurt, but it’s only luck that prevented him from being badly injured.”
The man was treated on the scene by ambulance crews and was taken to hospital.
Part of the ground floor restaurant, which is on George Lane, was damaged by fire. The restaurant’s ducting, which is the extraction system used by restaurants, was destroyed. A very small section of the hairdressers next door was also damaged.
The Brigade was called at 12.16 and the fire was brought under control by 1409.
Four fire engines and around twenty firefighters from Walthamstow, Homerton, Chingford and Walthamstow attended the incident.
Fire investigators attended the incident and said that the fire started when built up fat and oil in the ducting caught alight. The Brigade advise all restaurant owners to ensure their extraction systems and ducting are kept clean as a build up of fat can lead to a fire.