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| London Zoo fire: Aardvark unaccounted for and staff treated for smoke inhalation as blaze shuts attraction | London Zoo fire: Aardvark unaccounted for and staff treated for smoke inhalation as blaze shuts attraction |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Eight people have been hurt and an aardvark remains "unaccounted for" after a fire ripped through buildings at London Zoo, shutting the tourist attraction. | |
| Several staff members were treated for smoke inhalation and shock following the blaze, which began in a petting area and spread to a nearby shop and cafe. | Several staff members were treated for smoke inhalation and shock following the blaze, which began in a petting area and spread to a nearby shop and cafe. |
| Zoo workers rushed to save the animals after flames broke out at about 6am. | Zoo workers rushed to save the animals after flames broke out at about 6am. |
| The fire started in the Animal Adventure zone, a children's zoo which houses goats, sheep, donkeys, llamas, aardvarks, meerkats, and pigs. | The fire started in the Animal Adventure zone, a children's zoo which houses goats, sheep, donkeys, llamas, aardvarks, meerkats, and pigs. |
| "Duty staff that live on site at the zoo were on the scene immediately, and started moving animals to safety," said a zoo spokesman. | "Duty staff that live on site at the zoo were on the scene immediately, and started moving animals to safety," said a zoo spokesman. |
| "A number of zoo staff have been treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and shock. | "A number of zoo staff have been treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and shock. |
| "Our staff are now in the process of assessing the situation in difficult conditions. At present one aardvark is currently unaccounted for." | "Our staff are now in the process of assessing the situation in difficult conditions. At present one aardvark is currently unaccounted for." |
| London Ambulance Service said it treated six people for smoke inhalation and two for minor injuries. One was taken to a north-west London hospital. | London Ambulance Service said it treated six people for smoke inhalation and two for minor injuries. One was taken to a north-west London hospital. |
| Seventy-two firefighters with 10 engines battled for more than three hours to bring the blaze under control and prevent it spreading to other animal enclosures. | Seventy-two firefighters with 10 engines battled for more than three hours to bring the blaze under control and prevent it spreading to other animal enclosures. |
| About three-quarters of the cafe and shop and half of its roof were ablaze. Pictures from the scene showed firefighters hosing down roaring flames as smoke billowed from the building. | About three-quarters of the cafe and shop and half of its roof were ablaze. Pictures from the scene showed firefighters hosing down roaring flames as smoke billowed from the building. |
| The blaze was under control by 9.16am. | The blaze was under control by 9.16am. |
| London Zoo's spokesman added: "We are immensely grateful to the fire brigade, who reacted quickly to the situation to bring the fire under control. | London Zoo's spokesman added: "We are immensely grateful to the fire brigade, who reacted quickly to the situation to bring the fire under control. |
| "The zoo will remain closed until further notice, and we will work closely with fire investigators to determine the cause of the incident." | "The zoo will remain closed until further notice, and we will work closely with fire investigators to determine the cause of the incident." |
| London Fire Brigade stations manager Clive Robinson said: "The fire mainly affected the cafe and shop. Part of nearby animal petting area was also affected although at this stage we don't know if any animals were involved. | London Fire Brigade stations manager Clive Robinson said: "The fire mainly affected the cafe and shop. Part of nearby animal petting area was also affected although at this stage we don't know if any animals were involved. |
| "Firefighters worked hard to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible and to stop it from spreading to neighbouring animal enclosures. | "Firefighters worked hard to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible and to stop it from spreading to neighbouring animal enclosures. |
| "Crews will remain at the scene throughout the morning damping down any remaining pockets of fire." | "Crews will remain at the scene throughout the morning damping down any remaining pockets of fire." |
| Firefighters from Kentish Town, Paddington, Euston, West Hampstead and other surrounding fire stations were sent to the blaze. | Firefighters from Kentish Town, Paddington, Euston, West Hampstead and other surrounding fire stations were sent to the blaze. |
| The zoo, in Regent's Park in the north-west of the capital, is usually open every day except Christmas Day. It is not yet known if it will reopen for Christmas Eve. | The zoo, in Regent's Park in the north-west of the capital, is usually open every day except Christmas Day. It is not yet known if it will reopen for Christmas Eve. |
| The attraction houses 20,166 animals, according to its inventory for 2017. It is the world's oldest scientific zoo, dating back to 1826. | The attraction houses 20,166 animals, according to its inventory for 2017. It is the world's oldest scientific zoo, dating back to 1826. |