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Fire forces hospital's evacuation Fire forces hospital's evacuation
(10 minutes later)
Patients are being moved from a London hospital after a "very serious" fire broke out on its top floor. Patients are being moved from a London hospital after a "very serious" fire broke out on the top floor.
About 40 firefighters are tackling the blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Fulham Road, Chelsea, west London.About 40 firefighters are tackling the blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Fulham Road, Chelsea, west London.
Much of the roof has been destroyed by the blaze which started at 1320 GMT and sent smoke billowing into the air.Much of the roof has been destroyed by the blaze which started at 1320 GMT and sent smoke billowing into the air.
In nearby Dovehouse Street several patients have been laid on mattresses in an ambulance area and others have been led away wrapped in blankets.In nearby Dovehouse Street several patients have been laid on mattresses in an ambulance area and others have been led away wrapped in blankets.
Emergency vehicles The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was treating the fire as "very serious" but so far there are no reported injuries.
The London Fire Brigade said it was treating the fire as "very serious". An LFB spokesman said: "We're currently evacuating patients. We don't have numbers at the moment."
A London Fire Brigade spokesman said: "We're currently evacuating patients. We don't have numbers at the moment." 'Huge plume'
The Royal Marsden Hospital was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research into the causes of the disease. Ten ambulances, five officers, a hazardous area response team and a fast response car were sent to the scene by the London Ambulance Service.
A spokesman said: "Our crews are currently remaining on standby but there are no reports of any casualties at this stage."
Both Fulham Road and Sydney Street have been closed and crowds have gathered at the perimeter to watch the scene.
Mark Purcell, spokesman for the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, said patients could be transferred there from the Royal Marsden.
He said: "I've just been there and there is a huge plume of smoke coming out of the building.
"Nurses are outside attending to patients and handing out blankets.
"I think some of the patients will get transferred to other hospitals, including the Chelsea and Westminster, but we have not received any patients yet."
Pablo Pico, who works at a nearby book shop, said: "There is a lot of smoke and we can see a lot of ashes flying over.Pablo Pico, who works at a nearby book shop, said: "There is a lot of smoke and we can see a lot of ashes flying over.
"There are ambulances coming down the street still and helicopters overhead.""There are ambulances coming down the street still and helicopters overhead."
The manager of Finch's bar, which is near the hospital, said: "There's an extremely large volume of emergency vehicles coming down at the moment. The manager of Finch's bar, which is near the hospital, said: "There's an extremely large volume of emergency vehicles coming down at the moment."
"It's not good at all." The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research into the causes of the disease.


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