Girl,11, among dead after air-fryer fire at Chinese takeaway

An 11-year-old girl has been killed in a fire at a Chinese takeaway sparked by an air fryer.

Another woman is in a serious condition in hospital after the blaze which also claimed the life of a 45-year-old man.

Police said the two deaths followed the fire at around 6am on Wednesdsay at The Golden Phoenix takeaway in Grimoldby, near Louth.

Five other people were taken to hospital.

A woman in her 30s remains in a serious condition. Two men in their 40s and two children under ten years have been released from hospital.

An investigation into the cause of the fire by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue confirmed the cause to be accidental and related to the use of an air fryer. A report will be prepared for the Lincolnshire Coroner, Paul Smith.

Chief Fire Officer Mark Baxter, of Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘Upon arrival at the scene, crews were met with a well developed fire, which has tragically claimed the lives of two people, left another in a critical condition, and injured several others.

‘Following fire investigations in conjunction with Lincolnshire Police and the regional fire investigations dog, we have determined this was started by an air fryer igniting nearby objects.

‘This will be an extremely difficult time for the family, their friends, and the tight-knit community, and our thoughts and condolences go out to them all.’

There were six ambulance crews and two paramedics in fast response cars who attended the scene, along with five crews from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, Lincolnshire Police and an air ambulance.

An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We received a call at 6.22am on Wednesday, February 18, to a property fire at Manby Middlegate in Grimoldby. We sent six ambulance crews and two paramedics in solo response cars, supported on scene by a senior manager and critical care teams.’

They added: ‘The air ambulance also attended. Four patients were taken to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby via ambulances, and one patient was taken to Queen’s Medical center in Nottingham via air ambulance.’