Firefighters Race to Hackney Flat Blaze
Four fire engines and 25 firefighters swooped on a flat fire on Poole Street, Hackney, yesterday (19 April). The blaze damaged a small part of a three-room second-floor flat inside a 13-storey block.
Residents Escape Unharmed
About 20 residents evacuated before fire crews arrived. Thankfully, no one was injured. The fire is thought to have started from a fault in the kitchen extractor hood.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson warned: “Dirty ducting in extraction systems boosts fire risk. Keep your cooker hood, hob, and extractor fan clean – built-up grease and fat can easily ignite.”
The Quick Response
The Brigade was called at 5:24pm and brought the fire under control by 6:10pm. Firefighters from Shoreditch, Islington, Whitechapel, and Stoke Newington stations joined in the effort.
Top Fire Safety Tips for Takeaways and Restaurants
- Get ducting in your extraction system cleaned regularly
- Ensure correct ducting installation
- Exercise caution when cooking with hot oil – it overheats and catches fire easily
- Never fill pans more than one-third full of fat or oil
- Dry food thoroughly before frying – oil and water are a deadly combo
- Use electronic deep fat fryers with automatic temperature controls whenever possible
- Have your electrical system tested regularly
- Complete your Fire Risk Assessment and prepare an emergency plan
