Flaming pizza at Bakkavor factory

Two fire engines and 10 firefighters were called to tackle a fire at a pizza factory owned by the Bakkavor Group in Harrow, north west London yesterday (April 19).

About 420 people were evacuated from the food factory after what is believed to be a pizza on a conveyor belt caught fire.

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade told FoodManufacture.co.uk: “It was not a massive incident and a sprinkler system in the building put the fire out.”

Pizza oven

Firefighters inspected a pizza oven with a thermal imaging camera to check it was safe before leaving the factory.

A spokesman for the firm said: “Staff were evacuated safely and successfully, in line with procedure and the brigade were called as a precautionary measure.

“The factory was back to full operation within a couple of hours and the fire caused no substantial damage.”