London Fire Brigade

Investigation continues into Camden Market blaze

11 February 2008

The work being carried out by London Fire Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team is complex and there is no indication at this stage as to how long it will take to complete.

Twenty fire engines and around 100 firefighters battled the blaze which engulfed Camden’s Canal Market. The Brigade was called at 7.10pm with first fire crews arriving quickly on the scene just four minutes later. Firefighters worked hard in high temperatures to contain the blaze which damaged a range of market storage areas, shops, dwellings and two pubs.

Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Val Shawcross said: “Again London’s fire brigade demonstrated outstanding professionalism in bringing this difficult and dangerous fire under control, preventing it from spreading further and without a single casualty. Considering the fierce fire that fire crews found when they arrived at the incident we should recognise what a very good job they did in bringing it under control so quickly.”

Around 550 people were evacuated from the area, including 100 local residents who had to leave their homes as a precautionary measure. Despite the severity of the fire there were no reported causalities, injuries or rescues.

The fire was surrounded within three hours of the Brigade being called and was completely under control by 1.09am.

Firefighters stayed at the incident throughout the night damping down deep seated pockets of fire.


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Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:

telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk