Flames ripped through a Hornchurch restaurant on Saturday night, destroying much of the interior and resulting in the rescue of two cats.
Firefighters tackling the blaze (Image: Archant)
Firefighters were called to Hornchurch Charcoal Grill, Station Road, at about 9.30pm.
Two engines were sent but no one was seriously injured.
A firefighter at the scene said the blaze began in a ventilation shaft above the grill.
“It spread up through the house, up into the second floor,” he said.
“It destroyed half the staircase. We were there for about three and a half hours.
“We had to rescue a couple of cats from adjacent flats.”
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