The owner of a fish and chip takeaway in Harehills says it will shortly reopen for business .
Staff at Mermaid Fish Bar fled the premises after a chip pan caught fire, thinking it was about to explode after it went up in flames.
"Bang - and flames started coming out," co-owner Mary Anne Georgiou said. "I just ran out with my dad, he was in at the time.
"It was loud. I did see the flames then I started panicking and just ran out.
"It was scary, you think the whole thing is going to explode."
"I was panicking for other people, I didn't want anyone to get hurt."
Four fire crews from across West Yorkshire rushed to the scene to help put out the fire as flames were seen coming out of the chimney above the shop.
A number of nearby premises were quickly evacuated in the moments that followed the fire, but Harehills Lane was soon reopened as the blaze was brought under control.
The chippy was forced to close, but has luckily managed to sort the damage in time to open at the start of next week (Monday, April 15).
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