Firefighters praise take away owner for doing the right thing following fire

Firefighters have praised the quick reactions of a take away store owner who followed all the correct procedures after a chip pan caught fire.

Crews were called to a premises in the High Road, South Benfleet, at 11.14am today.

A chip pan had caught fire but major damage was averted thanks to the owner who isolated the heat supply, used an extinguisher and evacuated the premises quickly.

Watch Manager Wayne Davey from Rayleigh Weir Fire Station said: “The business owner did absolutely the right thing, saved a lot of damage to his premises and more importantly no one was hurt. The fire was near on out when we arrived so we just had to deal with that and clear the smoke. It really shows the importance of having the right extinguishers, a smoke alarm and knowing exactly what to do.”

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has a dedicated business engagement team that can help all businesses across the county with fire safety advice.

If you are a business owner and would like to speak to them please call 01376 576000 or contact them via our website.