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Firefighters tackle blaze in Soho | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Scores of firefighters have brought a major office blaze under control in Soho, central London. | |
The fire broke out at the four-storey office building in Dean Street at about 1400 BST. | |
At its height about 60 firefighters tackled the blaze, which sent plumes of black smoke across the West End. | |
Firefighters brought the blaze under control on Friday afternoon. No members of the public were injured but two firefighters were slightly hurt. | |
About 50 firefighters continued to damp down the fire on Friday night. | |
A company called Future Capital was based in the Dean Street building. | |
About 10% of the building, including its basement, was thought to have caught fire. | |
Fifty people were removed from the building and workers were taken from other buildings in the area. | |
We've all been evacuated in the last hour - the fire started in an air conditioning duct Soho worker | We've all been evacuated in the last hour - the fire started in an air conditioning duct Soho worker |
Kensington fire station manager Andy Pike said the area was likely to be cordoned off until at least 2230 BST. | |
Nino Ripani, manager of nearby restaurant Signor Zilli's, said: "It's really shocking. | Nino Ripani, manager of nearby restaurant Signor Zilli's, said: "It's really shocking. |
"It's really getting to serious stuff now - we can see the black bits coming out." | "It's really getting to serious stuff now - we can see the black bits coming out." |
One man who was removed from the site said: "We've all been evacuated in the last hour. The fire started in an air conditioning duct." | |
In Pictures: Soho fire | In Pictures: Soho fire |
Musician David McAlmont was among a crowd of people gathered at the cordon's edge. | Musician David McAlmont was among a crowd of people gathered at the cordon's edge. |
He said: "I saw the smoke from St Martin's Lane and followed it all the way here. It was only then that I realised what was happening. | He said: "I saw the smoke from St Martin's Lane and followed it all the way here. It was only then that I realised what was happening. |
"I'm supposed to be playing a gig tonight at the Pizza Express in Dean Street so I don't know how this will affect it." | "I'm supposed to be playing a gig tonight at the Pizza Express in Dean Street so I don't know how this will affect it." |
It was the second blaze to hit Soho in as many days. On Thursday, fire crews were called to a building in Newport Place which housed a restaurant and offices. | |
The fire damaged the basement of the five-storey building but no-one was hurt. | The fire damaged the basement of the five-storey building but no-one was hurt. |