Huge fire breaks out near BBC, covers central London in ‘thick black smoke’
A huge fire has broken out on the roof of a building in central London, a short distance from the BBC’s headquarters.
Alarmed workers in the area shared images of the “thick black smoke” fogging the streets of London on social media.
@BBCLondonNews@standardnews Building fire on Great Portland Street. No fire engines yet. pic.twitter.com/ZmhPE4pjHP
— Ben Nunn (@BenNunnUK) April 17, 2015
Fire on Great Portland Street - 3 @LondonFire engines and 1000 #BBC journalists in attendance... pic.twitter.com/3GxdNACbDh
— David Friend (@David_Friend01) April 17, 2015
People in the area are using Twitter to warn those nearby to “keep safe.”
A fire has broken out on Great Portland Street in London #firepic.twitter.com/9ost0fcdWn
— Tim Johns (@timoncheese) April 17, 2015
smoke & flames up near Great Portland St ... what's happening? @LondonFire@HuffPostUK@BBCNews@standardnews#firepic.twitter.com/QZNOU1kuwk
— zöé caldwell (@zoecaldwell) April 17, 2015
Twenty firefighters were called to the scene at 12.22pm to tackle the flames spreading on the rooftop over Great Portland Street.
We've been called to reports of smoke coming from a building under refurbishment on Great Portland Street #Marylebonepic.twitter.com/fDcc1yCQs6
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 17, 2015
4 fire engines now at Great Portland St fire. It's in lift motor room on building's roof © @timoncheese#Marylebonepic.twitter.com/T4hiXcnzwT
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 17, 2015
We've taken thirty-five 999 calls to the very visible fire on Great Portland Street in #Marylebone © @BenNunnUKpic.twitter.com/ItFIpr40Dl
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 17, 2015
The London Fire Brigade said the fire was in the elevator motor room of a building that was being refurbished.
We got the fire on Great Portland St in #Marylebone out quickly. Hopefully the roads will open shortly #FridayFeelingpic.twitter.com/0OVJtVixBG
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) April 17, 2015
However, they recently confirmed on Twitter they had put the fire out quickly.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Bridge said: “Four fire engines and 20 firefighters attended a fire at a building on Great Portland Street.”
“It was very visible and we’ve taken 35,999 calls.”
“The fire is in the lift motor room on the roof. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.”
