12 Oct 2012
Incidents in Nottinghamshire and Essex have sparked the Fire Industry Association (FIA) into calling for fast-food outlets across the country to improve fire safety.
Three fire crews had to be called to Maryland Chicken in Lower Parliament Street in Nottingham at around 2pm on Monday 8 October when a deep fat fryer caused a blaze to break out and the manager suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation.
It is thought to have been an accident but an investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident, which needed firefighters to put on breathing apparatus to get the fire under control and search the building for people.
And a week earlier, at 10.23pm on Monday 1 October, fire crews were called to the Paradise Masala outlet in London Road in Colchester after an extractor fan caused the restaurant to catch fire.
Firefighters used a single hose reel to tackle the flames and put the blaze out in around half an hour but the two incidents in quick succession have prompted the FIA to call on all fast-food outlets to ensure their fire safety provision is up to scratch.
Copyright Press Association 2012