London's popular celebrity venue, Chiltern Fire Station, will remain closed until further notice after the fire forced around 100 people to be evacuated at lunchtime on Friday.
The London Fire Force (LFB) said 125 firefighters and 20 fire trucks were fired at a restaurant and luxury hotel on Chiltern Street, Marylebone, after a 999 call was made at 2:52pm. He said he was present.
The fire was furious for six hours before firefighters near the scene said it was “fully under control,” and the four-storey hotel probably requires a “major renovation” and the fire still remains the next building He added that it was flowing in.
Chiltern Firehouse owner André Balazs confirmed that no one had been injured in the fire and said it was “fully included” by 9:30pm. “Our guests and staff were evacuated safely.”
Early in the afternoon, an LFB spokesperson said a fire had hit a “duct that leads from the first floor to the roof.” There is also a roof-level plant room. The cause of the fire is not yet known. ”
The restaurant is located on the first floor of one of London's first private fire stations, and witnesses say the fire “started in the kitchen” and then “goed upstairs.” I did.
“The restaurant is empty [were] The witness added. “They were dressed so cleverly that they didn't expect to be waiting in the cold. They could smell smoke outside, but they didn't see any flames.”
Another witness working nearby said he saw “all smokey streets.”
“There was really thick smoke and I got into other streets… my vision was terrible,” Guy Fishman, 23, from Richmond, London, told PA.
By 5pm, the roads had been closed due to the number of fire engines trying to fight the fire, he said.
“[The fire] It's definitely bigger than I expected. I didn't think the firefighters would look that big because they got there quite a bit,” he said. “The whole street was closed and we could see the smoke from quite a distance…it was crazy.”
He added that he was “totally shocked” to see the thick smoke and flames.
Firefighter crews across London were deployed at the scene, including Euston, Kensington, Chelsea, Paddington, Soho and West Hampstead fire stations.
By 5:30pm, about two hours after the fire started, thick black smoke had started to swirl from the roof, and firefighters began using aerial platforms to send water into the area.
A video on social media showed flames at the top of the building, covered by firefighters with a crane while smoke was coming out of the roof.
LFB firefighters said it is likely that Cordon will be placed in place overnight, and would likely hinder access to the streets surrounding the five-star hotel.
Shortly after opening in 2014, the restaurant was reported to be “feeding tabloid celebrities sections on its own.” [there] Like a candle-crazed moth.”
It describes as a place where the money is valued 5/10, 7/10 for food by restaurant reviewer Marina O'Laurin, “appears to be accessory almost permanently by Kate Moss.” It was done.
Bill Clinton, Bono, David Cameron, Keira Knightley and Lindsay Lohan have been filmed in the venue in the past. Madonna and Naomi Campbell are also among the well-known customers.
Balazs said: [more than] The 14 stations go down quickly what they told me was a very sentimental building for many of them.
“In fact, I know that one of the people who rushed to the Chiltan Fire Station tonight was stationed in the building when it was the fire station 30 years ago. I'm really grateful to all of them because this is Because I'm sure it's not the Valentine's Day night they had in mind.”
