Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters and officers were called to a flat fire on Kensington Gardens Square in Bayswater this evening (Saturday, 19 August). A turntable ladder was also used to tackle the blaze.
The fire gutted two flats - one on the third floor and one on the fourth floor of the converted five storey mid-terraced town house. Eight people left the property before the Brigade arrived and tw cars were damaged by falling debris. There were no reports of any injuries.
Smoke from the fire was very visible in its early stages and the Brigade's '999' Control officers took around 20 emergency calls from members of the public.
Station Manager Nick Saunders who was at the scene said: "This was a challenging fire and crews worked hard to contain it and to stop it from spreading further than the two affected flats. A turntable ladder was also used to fight the fire."
The Brigade was called at 1850 and the fire was under control at 2210. Crews from Kensington, North Kensington, Paddington, Hammersmith, Euston and Chelsea fire stations were at the scene. Firefighters will remain at the scene for some time damping down the fire and carrying out salvage work in the building.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.