A fire that threatened a five-storey building and spread to neighbouring buildings in London’s Chinatown is being investigated by experts.
The blaze at a restaurant in Gerrard Street sent smoke billowing through part of the Soho district just after noon on Sunday. There were no reports of injuries.
Ten people had left the building before six fire engines and 35 firefighters and officers arrived at the scene. Two turntable ladders were also sent by London fire brigade.
The fire damaged part of the basement kitchen at the Wan Chai Corner restaurant and its extraction system. The building’s roof was also badly damaged.
Station manager Lisa Hicks said: “When crews arrived, they were faced with a fire in the basement kitchen which they quickly extinguished. The fire also affected the restaurant’s ducting and roof and firefighters worked hard in hot conditions to prevent it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.”
The fire service said the fire was under control by 3.25pm.
The #Soho restaurant fire is affecting the building's roof. Please avoid the area if you can https://t.co/0qoidtq0zI pic.twitter.com/vLNMeB1vWL
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) July 10, 2016
Sad to witness a fire in #Chinatown firemen on scene v quickly pic.twitter.com/WWvmfoeB78
— Anna Young (@annalouisey) July 10, 2016
