Breaking: London's Burning.

[weemadando]

Crews tackle London market fire

Camden Market fire
The flames are reportedly leaping up to 30ft in the air

Scene of the blaze
A number of people are reportedly trapped in a major blaze at London's famous Camden Market, according to the London Fire Brigade.

Firefighters were alerted by a 999 call at about 7.20pm on Saturday to a fire at the north side of the market, on Chalk Farm Road.

London Ambulance Service said there are no reports of casualties so far.

Police are sealing off roads near the blaze and some houses and flats are being evacuated.

Revellers from local pubs and bars have been moved away from the danger area, where flames are leaping up to 30ft in the air.

Crowds have been dispersed because of fears there may be gas canisters within the area.

Twenty fire appliances and about 100 firefighters are in attendance.

London Ambulance Service said it has ambulances and a hazardous response team at the scene.

Jamie Megson, 31, from Merseyside, who is in London as part of a stag weekend said: "We were drinking in a pub on the High Street when all of a sudden people started leaving the pub.

"Out of curiosity we followed and managed to get quite close to the blaze, although police had already sealed off the area.

It's really gone up and there are lots of fire fighters and police.

"They've closed the pub we were in and seem to be shutting off most of Camden Town."

Camden Town is a major tourist attraction attracting up to 300,000 visitors each weekend.

[MKSheppard]

"They've closed the pub"

CATASTROPE!!!shiftoneoeneonen

How will Londonites live without a pub!

[weemadando]

They'll have to mobilise the riot squad and water cannon loaded with lukewarm ale to quell to mob.

[Admiral Valdemar]

Oh man, Camden isn't going to like that. I'll have to pass through there sometime soon again and see what the damage is.

And I miss the series London's Burning.

[Dartzap]

An Update

Blaze closes famous market area
Firefighters are continuing to dampen the remnants of a fire which damaged Camden's famous market in north London, as investigators seach for its cause.

Police have lifted some cordons in residential streets erected when the blaze began early on Saturday evening.

But they have advised people to avoid the area as main streets could be closed for up to four days.

Storage buildings for the market and the Hawley Arms pub were severely damaged, but no injuries were reported.

Some 100 firefighters tackled the blaze, which began about 1920 GMT, and some are continuing to dampen down hotspots.

Although Camden Council set up an emergency shelter in a sports hall with 100 beds available, only six people, including three children, spent the night there after their homes were evacuated. About 20 others were given accommodation at hotels.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "Chalk Farm Road and parts of Camden High Street, as well as surrounding one-way streets, are expected to be closed for the next three or four days."



The closures are to allow structural engineers to assess the damage to buildings, including the Hawley Arms, a popular Camden pub which is frequented by celebrities including singer Amy Winehouse.

Landlady Ruth Charles-Ridler said she was "devastated".

"Everyone I've spoken to is in complete shock."

The markets area is a major tourist attraction attracting up to 300,000 visitors each weekend to its six open-air and indoor markets and vibrant mix of bars, clubs, shops and restaurants.

London Fire Brigade station manager Guy Foster said there were no reports of any casualties, injuries or rescues.

"When firefighters arrived they found an intense fire and they have done incredibly well to get it under control so quickly.

"The decision was taken to clear a large area around the fire because we believed there were propane gas canisters in some of the market stalls.

"The police had to carry out a large operation to clear what is a very busy area on a Saturday night and they have done an excellent job to enable us to fight the fire effectively."

Residents had also been evacuated from some houses and flats.

A spokeswoman for Camden Council said it would keep open a rest centre for evacuees at Talacre Sports Centre "as long as it is needed".

Evacuees are being advised to call the council's emergency line on 0207 974 4444 for the latest information on rehousing.

Train services suspended

Camden Council is also organising a meeting to help businesses affected by the fire on Sunday but have yet to confirm a time. Details will be posted on the council's website.

The meeting will be to provide advice, such as insurance and re-opening plans, to damaged businesses as well as those undamaged but within the cordon which remain closed, a spokeswoman said.

Train services passing through Camden Town on the North London line were suspended during the blaze, and the line remains partly closed due to scheduled engineering works on Sunday.

Network Rail said it would check if any damage was caused to the tracks by the fire.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said: "Our thoughts are with those people affected by the fire in Camden Market - one of the most thriving markets in London and of enormous importance for the economy of the local area and beyond."

Conservative mayoral candidate Boris Johnson said: "This will come as a terrible blow to their livelihoods and the area generally. My thoughts are with the traders, local residents and the emergency services who are, as usual, performing brilliantly under pressure."

And I miss the series London's Burning.

Well the plots really were going up in smoke in the later series......

[Soontir C'boath]

Next thing we'll know, Autons will be rampaging soon.

[Flagg]

And I, for one, would like to welcome our new Rage infected overlords!

[Zac Naloen]

"They've closed the pub"

CATASTROPE!!!shiftoneoeneonen

How will Londonites live without a pub!

They can just go to the one on the other side of the road!

[Shroom Man 777]

Yep. Time to head for the Winchester. I hear they have a real gun.