Employees of a well-known supermarket in Middlesbrough have been hailed as heroes after a catastrophic fire on Linthorpe Road. Jamaal Iqbal, whose father Zaffar runs Abdul's Cash and Carry, commended staff members who acted collectively to ensure everyone reached safety as flames engulfed an adjacent building.
Fire Erupts at Antalya Shawarma
Eight fire engines attended the scene of the destructive blaze on Saturday, June 20. An inquiry into the cause of the fire, which appears to have originated at Antalya Shawarma, continues while a structural evaluation of the premises is carried out. Video footage showed flames erupting from the front of the takeaway establishment and extending to adjacent buildings, including Abdul's Cash and Carry, which first opened on the street in 2007.
Jamaal, who was on duty at the shop when the fire started, told Teesside Live: "It was a member of staff who said there was some smoke. We just had to get everyone out - customers and staff. We are very lucky that nobody was hurt. It went from bad to worse. There is a lot of damage but all that can be replaced or fixed. I'm just so grateful everyone was safe. Everybody acted as a team to get everyone out. Members of staff have been quite shaken up by it."
Community Support and Aftermath
"We have been meeting with the council," added Jamaal. "We don't know how long it's going to take before we can reopen. The support we've received has been amazing. My phone is ringing constantly whether that be from customers or suppliers, everyone has been so supportive. We've had people offer to come along and help clean up when we can. It's nice to see everyone is coming together to help."
Teesside Live previously reported that the North East Ambulance Service conveyed two individuals to hospital for additional treatment. While details regarding their condition remain unconfirmed, their injuries are not thought to be serious. A section of Linthorpe Road remained shut on Tuesday, June 23, with reopening dependent upon safety assessments. Photographs from the location reveal the blackened shell of one property, which was entirely consumed by flames.
Fire Brigade Response
Cleveland Fire Brigade confirmed the stop call was logged at 7.43pm - several hours following the initial emergency response at 10.47am. The origin of the blaze has yet to be established and verified. Over the weekend, proprietors of Antalya Shawarma expressed gratitude to the community for their compassion and solidarity. Writing on social media, they stated: "It's with a heavy heart we have to share that our restaurant was destroyed by fire yesterday. Thankfully, no one was hurt - and that's what matters most to us. Everything we built is gone, but we're grateful to be safe. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. It means everything right now. To every customer who walked through our doors: thank you. For the conversations, the loyalty, the community. You made this place special."
