Eight fire engines and around 58 firefighters and officers attended a fire at a restaurant with flats above it on Panton Street in Soho, this morning.
Two men, a woman and a baby left a neighbouring property before the arrival of the Brigade and twelve people were evacuated from an adjoining property on Oxendon Street. A further 274 members of the public were also evacuated from a nearby nightclub in Haymarket by staff. Fortunately there were no reports of any injuries.
Part of the first, second, third floors and half of the roof was damaged by fire. A service shaft from the ground floor to the roof was also damaged in the blaze.
Station Manager Rodney Vitalis who was at the scene, said: “The building was heavily smoke logged and initially it was difficult for crews to gain access and locate the fire. Firefighters worked hard to bring it under control.”
Firefighters from Soho, Euston, Lambeth, Dowgate, Paddington and Shoreditch fire stations attended the incident. Crews are likely to remain at the scene damping down throughout the morning.
The Brigade was called at 0117 and the fire was under control at 0437. The cause of the fire is under investigation.