Town’s fish bar thanked for feeding firefighters during devastating high street blaze
Firefighters being fed at Atlantish Fish Bar while they worked hard to tackle a blaze which destroyed businesses on Watton high street. Photo: Jayesh Patel - Credit: Jayesh Patel
A town's fish and chip shop which stayed open to feed scores of firefighters while they tackled a huge high street blaze has been praised for its generosity.
Okan Ucar, Atlantis Fish Bar manager, and his Chef Ozzy Oscar, fed firefigthters during a blaze which destroyed businesses on Watton high street. Photo: Emily Thomson - Credit: Archant
When a fire ripped through businesses in Watton high street, on Thursday, February 6, Atlantis Fish Bar opened its door to make sure those working at the scene were given food as they fought to save the heart of the town.
Nine fire crews from across the county fought the blaze which began at around 2.15pm in the kitchen of the Beijing Diner, a Chinese restaurant in the top floor of the building, before spreading to Cookies Café, Casino Games and the International Food Centre.
MORE: Drone photos reveal scale of major high street blazeBut despite the road closure into the high street forcing most businesses to close, Okan Ucar, the chip shop manager, and his chef Ozzy Oscar decided to stay open and approached the firefighters as they carried on working until 9pm at night offering fish and chips.
Mr Ucar said: "I think we fed more than 100 firefighters - they were still coming in at 9pm. They were from all over and we knew most our volunteers so we wanted to help in any way we could.
Firefighters worked hard to tackle a blaze which destroyed businesses on Watton high street. Photo: Jayesh Patel - Credit: Jayesh Patel
"I'm from Turkey and back at home when something bad happens to someone you support them. We wanted to support our community."
Nearly two weeks after the blaze, the town has taken a big hit and already started to restore the businesses that were burnt down.
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But Mr Ucar's generosity did not go unnoticed and he received a letter from Norfolk County Council thanking him.
The letter, signed by Paul Seaman, group manager at Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said: "I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to you and your colleagues for the kind gesture of food and drink supplied to our firefighters during last week's building fire in Watton high street.
Okan Ucar, Atlantis Fish Bar manager, and his Chef Ozzy Oscar, fed firefigthters during a blaze which destroyed businesses on Watton high street. Photo: Emily Thomson - Credit: Archant
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"Your generosity was greatly appreciated and went a long way to enable our crews to carry on working extremely hard in very difficult conditions."
Okan Ucar, Atlantis Fish Bar manager, and his Chef Ozzy Oscar, fed firefigthters during a blaze which destroyed businesses on Watton high street. Photo: Emily Thomson - Credit: Archant
Okan Ucar, Atlantis Fish Bar manager, and his Chef Ozzy Oscar, fed firefigthters during a blaze which destroyed businesses on Watton high street. Photo: Emily Thomson - Credit: Archant
