The fire in Seven Sisters Road

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A TAKEAWAY restaurant and two flats have been destroyed after flames engulfed a building in Holloway.

Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters were sent to tackle the fire at the Dubai Shawarma kebab shop in Seven Sisters Road after the first call was made to the service at 3.45am yesterday (Thursday).

It is the second time this year that a major fire has severely damaged businesses in the road.

When the Tribune got to the scene at 9am, firefighters were still arriving – from as far away as Dagenham – and the police had cordoned off a large part of the road.

Five people were taken to hospital by London Ambulance Service crews after suffering from smoke inhalation, but at least two residents had been discharged and were waiting to find out what had happened to their flat.

The couple, who live on the second floor above the takeaway, said they woke up at 4am before being told to leave the building immediately.

Firefighters at the scene yesterday (Thursday)

One resident said: “There was a huge fire. I looked out the window and I could just see the flames. We saw flames from our bedroom window that is facing the street. Then we went to the hospital for smoke inhalation.”

While speaking to the Tribune, the residents were told by the police that there was “nothing left” of their flat and that the roof was still alight.

In the flat next to the kebab shop, residents told how they woke up to the smell of smoke and had to “run through flames” onto the street.

Passers-by and neighbours in the area were equally shaken by the fire, with many waiting by the police cordons to see when they would be able to return to their homes and businesses.

Wilden Romero, who lives nearby, was “shocked” when he saw the flames as he was walking to work.

“There was so much smoke, flames everywhere, and firefighters trying to put them out. I was just in shock and took some videos to send to my brother,” he said.

Abdul Hasim, who runs the Photo 7 Digital shop on the corner of Seven Sisters Road, said he hoped to return to his business soon.

He said: “I don’t know what’s happened. I just came into work and I can’t get into the shop. Because of the safety reasons, they say I can’t go in. They say it will be hours.”

It was expected that the road would be shut until at least the end of the day.

Station Commander Mike Watts said: “There are road closures in place and we urge people to avoid the area, particularly as we head into rush hour, due to congestion.

“The fire produced a lot of smoke in the vicinity and local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed while crews brought the fire under control.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.

In February more than 40 firefighters were called to a blaze near the junction with Holloway Road, which had been caused by a “heat source placed too close to combustible items”.