MILE END ROAD was closed between the junctions with Burdett Road and Cambridge Heath road on Friday, 11th September as firefighters tackled a blaze near Stepney Green Tube station.
The fire was in a ground floor fast food restaurant and it affected a first floor flat above the shop. A small part of the restaurant was damaged, together with some ducting leading up to the flat. There are reports that part of the roof was also damaged by flames.
The first of ten calls about the fire came in to the London Fire Brigade at 1.43pm. Six fire engines – from Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, Shadwell, Poplar, Millwall and Homerton fire stations – brought some 40 firefighters to the scene. Firefighters used a turntable ladder to view the scene.
Before they arrived, a man vacated the restaurant and a woman and her baby left the flat. Station Commander Justin Randtoul asked motorists to avoid the area while the firefighters fought the blaze. East/West traffic was affected by the fire and buses 25 and 205 were diverted.
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.”
The fire was declared under control at 5.17pm. The London Fire Brigade is investigating the cause. Thanks to all the firefighters and the control room for keeping Tower Hamlets safe!
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