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| Firefighters tackle blaze at Mandarin Oriental hotel, London | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| One hundred and twenty firefighters are battling a blaze at the five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge, central London. | One hundred and twenty firefighters are battling a blaze at the five-star Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge, central London. |
| Twenty fire engines were dispatched to the fire, on William Street, after receiving more than 35 calls beginning at 3.55pm, London fire brigade said. | Twenty fire engines were dispatched to the fire, on William Street, after receiving more than 35 calls beginning at 3.55pm, London fire brigade said. |
| Crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, Battersea and surrounding fire stations attended the fire at the 12-storey luxury hotel. The London ambulance service attended the scene, but said there were no casualties “as far as we are aware”. | |
| Large plumes of black smoke could be seen from across the capital rising above the building, which is close to Harrods department store and the One Hyde Park luxury apartment complex. | Large plumes of black smoke could be seen from across the capital rising above the building, which is close to Harrods department store and the One Hyde Park luxury apartment complex. |
| Flames could be seen around the top of the hotel, and extended ladders were erected to access that area of the building. | Flames could be seen around the top of the hotel, and extended ladders were erected to access that area of the building. |
| Three witnesses observing the fire from outside the hotel said the flames appeared to have been largely extinguished by firefighters. | Three witnesses observing the fire from outside the hotel said the flames appeared to have been largely extinguished by firefighters. |
| In a statement, the London fire brigade said: “The brigade was called at 3.55pm. Fire crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, Battersea and other surrounding fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.” | In a statement, the London fire brigade said: “The brigade was called at 3.55pm. Fire crews from Chelsea, Kensington, Hammersmith, Battersea and other surrounding fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.” |
| Footage posted online that purported to be of the fire, but which the Guardian has not yet been able to verify, showed flames rising up at least four storeys, apparently in a courtyard-like space. | Footage posted online that purported to be of the fire, but which the Guardian has not yet been able to verify, showed flames rising up at least four storeys, apparently in a courtyard-like space. |
| “The fire was in the middle of the hotel,” said Samir Boureghda, of Masgouf restaurant in William Street, who said it looked as if the flames had been extinguished. | “The fire was in the middle of the hotel,” said Samir Boureghda, of Masgouf restaurant in William Street, who said it looked as if the flames had been extinguished. |
| An evacuated staff member mustering in nearby Hyde Park said “some people were very panicked”. | |
| A tradesman working at the hotel said he hit the alarm button when he saw a fire. The 19-year-old lift engineer, who gave his name as Harry, said: “I was in the lift shaft and I looked to my left and saw the geezers working on the roof. To my left there was a big fire. I said [to my colleague]: ‘Lee, there’s a fire over there, let’s get out of the building. Get out the lift shaft, I’m being serious.’ We ran down the stairs and went and got the scaffolder out of the loading bay.” | |
| He said the builders on the roof had been cutting materials and doing other work during the day. “I could see the orange flames on the roof,” he added. | He said the builders on the roof had been cutting materials and doing other work during the day. “I could see the orange flames on the roof,” he added. |
| The 181-room hotel, which is part of the global Mandarin group, only last month completed a major £185m refurbishment project with new bedrooms, public areas, restaurant and dining space and new luxury spa. The hotel is famous for its restaurant Dinner, run by Heston Blumenthal. | |
| Staff from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel were evacuated to Hyde Park, where they were being given bottles of water. | |
| One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “The fire alarm started and everybody was told to get outside. Everything’s fine but we don’t know how it started yet.” | One worker, who asked not to be named, said: “The fire alarm started and everybody was told to get outside. Everything’s fine but we don’t know how it started yet.” |
| Penelope Evans, 50, from Battersea, south London, was shopping in Harrods when she noticed the thick smoke as she was leaving. | Penelope Evans, 50, from Battersea, south London, was shopping in Harrods when she noticed the thick smoke as she was leaving. |
| Huge fire at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. All roads closed. 100 firefighters on the scene pic.twitter.com/40LIlMQatt | |
| “I saw all this black smoke coming from the sky, it was covering everything and the smell was horrendous,” she said. “It was like people were in shock, everyone immediately just started leaving the street and the area. There were hundreds of fire engines, ambulances, police racing by and helicopters overhead. After Grenfell, I feel like people are a lot more on edge about these things.People just wanted to get out.” | “I saw all this black smoke coming from the sky, it was covering everything and the smell was horrendous,” she said. “It was like people were in shock, everyone immediately just started leaving the street and the area. There were hundreds of fire engines, ambulances, police racing by and helicopters overhead. After Grenfell, I feel like people are a lot more on edge about these things.People just wanted to get out.” |
| Douglas Ballard, an alternative therapy healer, was evacuated from his office next door for the hotel at 3.50pm. “The alarms went off and everyone was ordered out,” he said. “They said the roof of the hotel took hold very quickly. The firefighters looked unsure what to do, but when the ladders got here the firefighter climbed to the top and put it out pretty quickly. The police were worried about explosions, and kept pushing us back further and further away.” | |
| Transport for London said the blaze was also affecting entry and exit to Knightsbridge tube station. | Transport for London said the blaze was also affecting entry and exit to Knightsbridge tube station. |
| It tweeted: “Knightsbridge: currently the Sloane Street entrance at the station is closed. Customers are advised to use the Harrods entrance. This is at the request of the emergency services.” | It tweeted: “Knightsbridge: currently the Sloane Street entrance at the station is closed. Customers are advised to use the Harrods entrance. This is at the request of the emergency services.” |
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