60 firefighters control Belgravia restaurant blaze

A fire has ripped through a restaurant in London's Belgravia, which led to eight fire engines and 60 firefighters being called to the scene.

Six staff and seven diners had already evacuated the building before the rescue services arrived at 22.40 yesterday at Pont Street.

Firefighters from Chelsea, Kensington, Soho and Lambeth, Euston, Chelsea and Fulham were present.

The crew used fire escape hoods to lead a man and a woman on the third floor to safety.

The fire was under control by 2.09, but part of the basement of the building and a small part of the first floor offices were damaged as a result.

All the ducting in the extraction system from basement to roof level had been destroyed.

It is believed that the fire was caused by the ignition of oil and fat within the ducting and the extractor hood.

A spokesperson from London Fire Brigade said: "We'd like to remind hotel, restaurant and takeaway owners to ensure they don't have dirty ducting. If you don't clean the ducting in 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."

Reports from the Evening Standard suggested the incident took place at Lebanese restaurant Abd el Wahab Lebanese.

The restaurant has been contacted for comment.