Firefighters have issued a reminder about kitchen safety after a pan overheated and caused a fire at a restaurant with flats above in Headley Drive, Croydon.
Four fire engines and 21 firefighters and officers were called to the fire at the building, which had flats above.
Most of the ground floor, part of the first floor and all of the ducting from the ground to the first floor were damaged in the fire.
The cause of the fire is believed to be a deep fat fryer which was turned on without sufficient levels of fat, causing it to overheat, ignite and spread to fat deposits within the extraction system.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Deep fat fryers can be hazardous, especially if left unattended.
“This incident also serves as a timely reminder to all restaurant and take-away owners to always ensure their extraction systems are kept clean as a build up of fat and grease within the filters can lead to a fire.”
One man left the property before the arrival of the Brigade. He was treated for smoke inhalation at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.
The Brigade was called at 1412 and the fire was under control at 1516. Fire crews from Beckenham, Bromley and Croydon fire stations attended the scene.