Blog

Some 60 crew members from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) were forced to respond after a blaze tore through Michelin-starred Indian fine dining restaurant Gymkhana.

Footage from the scene showed smoke pouring from the building on Albemarle Street. A spokesperson for JKS Restaurants, which owns the site, confirmed nobody was harmed in the incident and the fire was extinguished three hours after it was reported.

While the incident was ongoing a London Fire Brigade (LFB) spokesperson said that “part of the ground floor restaurant and part of the ducting – the ventilation system – from ground floor to roof level” had been “alight.” It later confirmed that half of the ground-floor restaurant was damaged by the fire.

The restaurant is now temporarily closed and will not accept bookings for the time being.

A spokesperson for JKS said: “At this stage, the cause of the fire is not yet known, however we would like to reassure the public that all staff and diners are safe. We are working with the London Fire Department to minimise all damage and prioritise the safety of the public and the surrounding area.

“At this time, we would like to thank the public and the London Fire Departments for their support and cooperation during this series of events.

“Currently, Gymkhana is not taking further reservations and all existing bookings are being retrospectively rescheduled and re-booked at other JKS Restaurants and partner venues to minimise further disruption.”

The interior of the site has become as notable as its cuisine, with the Hardens London restaurant guide 2019 giving praise for its “sophisticated interior design” and “old-style colonial cuisine”. The Michelin guide 2019 also noted its “interior… full of wonderful detail and plenty of wry touches”.

The site is one of several operated by JKS Restaurants, owned by siblings Jyotin, Karam and Sunaina Sethi. The other restaurants within the group include including Lyle’s (one Michelin star), Sabor (one Michelin star), Kitchen Table (two Michelin stars), Bubbledogs, Bao, Xu and Berenjak.

There are times where grease can be considered good, like when we need to lubricate machinery or a vehicle’s brake pads for optimal function. The right grease or lubricant can also aid with a jammed or squeaky door or when we need to waterproof and protect a pair of shoes. Coming in contact with greasy skin, greasy hair, or greasy food, however, are moments where we consider grease bad. And if you own a commercial kitchen, or a kitchen at all for that matter, letting grease build up in your kitchen not only leaves your space yucky but also in a dangerous condition.

Due to its thick, oily nature, one can only presume that letting grease build up in your commercial kitchen can potentially trigger injuries among those utilizing your kitchen space. Likewise, letting grease and moisture build up in your kitchen can additionally lead to employee discomfort and possible health problems, equipment damage, excess moisture in the food you serve, insect infestations, and eventually, a potential grease fire.

These dangers of letting grease accumulate in your kitchen are profound. Luckily, by having a well-functioning kitchen flue system and engaging in the right preventative measures, you can eliminate dangerous grease vapors from your commercial space.

How to Prevent Grease Buildup in Your Kitchen

The idea of completely preventing any drip of grease from collecting in your kitchen is impossible, that is, unless you plan on not cooking in your kitchen at all. Of course, that preventative strategy wouldn’t make sense for any type of kitchen. That said, it is technically grease management, rather than prevention, that you would want to engage in.

Ways to eliminate the buildup of your grease, apart from installing a kitchen exhaust, include disposing excess grease properly, cleaning the floors and surfaces of your kitchen daily, soaking and cleaning stove burners frequently, and regularly cleaning your grease trap and kitchen exhaust filters. That’s right – even your kitchen exhaust fan, which eliminates grease, fumes, heat, and other contaminants from your kitchen, requires cleaning maintenance too in order to work properly to get rid of grease from your kitchen.

By following the latter tips, you can prevent a potentially catastrophic disaster due to grease buildup and leave your kitchen more presentable in the process.

Kitchen Exhaust System Cleaning and Repair in Southern California

If regularly cleaning your kitchen flue sounds like a bore, or if you need reassurance that your flue is getting the right cleaning, you can count on our technicians to give your kitchen exhaust system the thorough cleaning it deserves. Our decades-worth of experience will leave your kitchen safer than ever before.

Apart from kitchen exhaust cleaning, we also offer emergency kitchen exhaust repair services 24 hours a day to ensure you can operate your commercial kitchen safely and legally with a safe and fully functioning kitchen flue.

If you have any questions, please call us at 800-700-FLUE today for more information regarding our flue cleaning services.

As many commercial kitchen owners might know, a kitchen exhaust, flue, range hood, or kitchen hood is an important piece of equipment that contains a mechanical fan. These devices remove heat, moisture, toxic fumes, airborne grease, and steam and smoke as byproducts of cooking. Although not all commercial structures have building codes requiring that a kitchen exhaust be installed, having one is certainly beneficial in many cases.

However, just having a kitchen flue is not enough to keep your kitchen safe and sound. Cleaning your flue is also a must. In fact, there are significant risks for failing to clean your exhaust on a minimum of a monthly basis.

Increased Risk of a Fire

One of the greatest hazards a greasy kitchen exhaust can pose for your kitchen is the risk of a flash fire. Such an event can not only damage precious equipment but potentially your entire building and possibly other nearby buildings. If your kitchen catches on fire, imagine not only the costs of damages that your insurer may not cover but also your risk of a lawsuit if other individuals get injured.

Inspection Failure

Filthy kitchen hoods and traps are often viewed as a health violation and can result in inspection failure. While you may be given a specified period to address the violation(s), your health department has the authority to shut your business down depending on the extent of the violation(s). Even when given time to address, say, a dirty kitchen exhaust, the loss of sales and even reputation if others find out about your kitchen inspection failure can be enough to damage your business entirely.

Kitchen Sanitation Issues

Proper ventilation provided by a kitchen exhaust is vital when it comes to sanitation as it can impact your employees and customers’ health. With a dirty kitchen exhaust, sanitation issues can come in the form of potentially-toxic aromas, poor air quality, and unwanted grease or condensation dripping onto prepared food and/or dishes and utensils prior to serving hungry customers.

Lower Employee Productivity

In turn of toxic aromas, poor air quality, and even heat accumulation from improperly-ventilated kitchen fumes and heat, your employees may suffer from lower productivity. Uncomfortable smells; stuffy, unsafe breathing air; and an uncomfortable kitchen temperature can all certainly distract employees and potentially cause short- or even long-term health concerns for your employees. Due to improper ventilation, you may suffer from not only a high employee turnover rate, and in turn angry customers, but also potential lawsuits if an employee suffers from health consequences due to working in a poorly-ventilated kitchen.

Environmental Safety Concerns

Kitchen ventilation systems are designed to properly ventilate environmentally-toxic smoke and grease. However, when it comes to the proper cleaning and disposal of grease and other byproducts accumulated by a kitchen exhaust, it is your responsibility to adhere to any environmental regulations and laws that apply to you. A professional kitchen flue cleaner can ensure these environmental standards are met, potentially preventing your business from receiving a fine from the Environmental Protection agency (EPA).

The latter are certainly not things you will want you experience, but fortunately, they preventable. By having quarterly steam cleaning performed on your commercial kitchen exhaust, you can reap the benefits of a safer kitchen environment. Contact us today at 800-700-FLUE to set up your first exhaust cleaning in Culver City, CA!

Restaurant owners have a lot to consider to maintain a clean, sterile, and safe kitchen environment for themselves and their employees. Keeping a clean kitchen also means customers will benefit too.

Cleaning a commercial kitchen involves wiping down countertops and hard surfaces, scrubbing sinks and the insides of appliances, and mopping and sweeping the floors. However, another critical aspect of a commercial kitchen that requires your attention is keeping your exhaust free of grease buildup.

Keeping your kitchen flue clear of grease is easy with exhaust steam cleaning and will allow your kitchen to garner substantial benefits.

Reduce Your Risk of Dangerous Flash Fires

One of primary consequences of not keeping your kitchen flue clear of grease is the risk of dealing with a flash fire. Because grease is highly flammable, taking chances by letting it build up overtime is not wise.

Worst of all, if your kitchen does end up in flames due to a greasy kitchen exhaust, your insurance company may not cover most, or even any, of the damages considering a flash fire caused by grease buildup is highly preventable. Quite frankly, keeping your flue clean is your responsibility, no one else’s.

The good news is, however, that having professional kitchen exhaust steam cleaning performed quarterly can reduce your risk of dealing with an unwanted kitchen fire. The only flames in your kitchen should be the flames that are cooking your food.

Say Hello to a Cleaner Kitchen

Apart from achieving a safer commercial kitchen environment by regularly cleaning your exhaust to eliminate solidified, flammable grease, these cleanings can also ensure you have a cleaner, brighter exhaust system. After all, grease accumulation is not a pretty sight; it’s and eyesore and, not to mention, looks unprofessional.

At Flue Steam, we pride ourselves in leaving your business’ kitchen exhaust bright, shiny, and hazard-free with our quality steaming services. A commercial kitchen can never be too safe or too clean.

Supplement Monthly Hand Cleanings with a Few Annual Steam Cleanings

Although cleaning your commercial kitchen exhaust by hand on a monthly basis is cost-effective, you can supplement those time-consuming, pesky cleanings with just two to four cleanings a year with professional steam cleaning services. While steam cleaning is more expensive than cleaning your exhaust by hand, it gets the job done faster and more thoroughly, thus resulting in a safer kitchen.

In the long-run, opting for kitchen steam cleaning can eliminate your chances of not only dealing with on-site injuries and/or property damage but can also save you from a hefty bill, fine, penalty, or even the loss of your business.

Ready to de-grease your filthy kitchen exhaust? Call us at 800-700-FLUE for more information!

Here in California, restaurant kitchens are required by code to have automatic fire suppressions systems. This is very important to prevent injuries to people and damage to your expensive commercial kitchen equipment. Does your restaurant kitchen have an automatic fire suppression that you’ll be able to count on in the event of an emergency? If you’re not sure, now is the time to update yours with Flue Steam.

How automatic fire suppression systems work

Automatic fire suppression systems operate with a temperature sensor that triggers the system to activate whenever the air outside the hood of your exhaust system reaches a certain preset temperature, which is usually set at 450 degrees. When this sensor is triggered, an extinguishing agent douses any flames on your appliances and in the plenum. In that same instant, an automatic shut-off valve is triggered to turn off your gas supply, which is essential to further reduce the flames. The automatic nature of these systems is absolutely essential so that fires can be extinguished instantaneously, but they are also equipped with a manual pull trigger, too.

Is your automatic fire suppression system up to the challenge?

If your automatic fire suppression is many years old, or otherwise shows signs of wear and tear, now is the perfect time to upgrade to a new one from Flue Steam. It’s so important to have one that’s in good working order so you’ll be prepared in the unlikely event that you’ll need it. In commercial kitchens, the unexpected often happens, so it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

When you purchase an automatic fire suppression system from Flue Steam, we’ll professionally install it for you to make sure it complies with all applicable codes, including the UL 300 standard. Our licensed technicians will not only install it for you, we’ll provide all the code-required inspections and maintenance the law requires every 6 months.

Rely on Flue Steam

For complete automatic fire suppression system services, you can really count on Flue Steam. We have the specialized technicians who have plenty of experience and drive to always make sure your needs are taken care of. We won’t rest until we can confidently say that your commercial kitchen is perfectly protected against fires with a automatic fire suppression system that’s been perfectly calibrated and maintained.

Kitchen exhaust system cleaning

When you sign up for automatic fire suppression system installation and maintenance services, we also recommend signing up for kitchen exhaust system cleaning services. Using hot, high pressure water, our licensed technicians will get every inch of your exhaust system perfectly clean so there won’t be any grease deposits, which could lead to flash fires. We recommend signing up for steam cleaning services 2-4 times per year. Your hood, exhaust ducts, drip cups, and exhaust fans will be sparkling clean after every service. Sign up for your first service today by calling 800-700-FLUE.