The owner of a London tanning salon has described how a customer ran out into the street naked after a sunbed “exploded”.
A fire broke out at Ania’s Tanning and Beauty on Wood Green High Street just after 2.50pm yesterday.
Footage shows thick black smoke billowing out of the shop, as customers and staff run for cover.
Three people were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, London Fire Brigade said.
The salon’s owner, Ragu Nad, visited the scene on Thursday to assess the damage, saying the business could be closed for weeks.
He told Metro that a regular customer of the salon, a bus driver, heard a cackling sound coming from his sunbed which was in a booth. He got off to investigate the noise and quickly got dressed before it became serious.
“Smoke started to come out and there was this explosion,” Mr Nad said, “The man managed to warn staff who ran out along with another lady, who at this stage didn’t have time to get dressed.”
Mr Nad told the newspaper the woman was naked when she ran out of the store, explaining she had no choice as there was no time for her to put on her clothes.
He said staff helped to cover her up when she got outside and expressed his gratitude that no one was injured in the fire.
The owner put it down to the bus driver’s quick thinking that saved lives.
“Everyone was shaken up, but bizarrely the lady who was naked was not phased by it all and asked me when I thought I would be able to reopen so she could top up her tan,” Mr Nad added.
Mr Nad has had the business for 20 years and said the extent of the damage could force him to close for weeks. A new sunbed, he said, can cost £20,000.
A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters tackled a fire at a tanning salon on High Road in Wood Green.
“Most of the ground floor salon was damaged by fire. Three people were treated on scene by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation.
“The Brigade’s Control Officers took the first of 11 calls to the fire at 1452 and mobilised crews from Hornsey, Stoke Newington, Edmonton and Holloway fire stations to the scene. The fire was under control by 1605.
“The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the failure of a cooling fan for a sunbed.”
