Residents and diners were evacuated after a fire broke out at a restaurant with flats above on Sidcup Road in Eltham last night.
Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters tackled the blaze, which broke out at the commercial property with two floors of flats above. Part of the ground floor was damaged by the fire.
Three people got out of the building before firefighters arrived. There were no reports of injuries.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Part of the ground floor was damaged by the fire. Three people evacuated prior to the Brigade’s arrival with no reports of injuries. Residents in the surrounding area were evacuated and were advised to keep their windows and doors closed due to heavy smoke.”
Residents in the surrounding area were also evacuated as thick smoke spread across the street. The fire was under control by 9.24pm.
Safety advice for residents
The Brigade’s advice — to keep windows and doors closed during heavy smoke — is standard for fires in mixed-use buildings like this one, where smoke can travel through shared stairwells and ventilation into homes above and nearby. Residents who were evacuated should not return until the fire service confirms it is safe.
If you live above or near a commercial property, it is worth knowing your building’s escape routes and making sure smoke alarms are working on every floor.
The cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed. It follows a house fire in Wembley in which three people were taken to hospital, and a fatal house fire in Brent earlier this month — a reminder of how quickly domestic and commercial fires can take hold.
