A fire that ripped through a luxury central London hotel popular with celebrities started accidentally from a pizza oven, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said. Chiltern Firehouse was partially destroyed by the Valentine's Day fire, which began when burning wood fell from the oven, "igniting the void between the basement and ground floor," LFB said. The five-star hotel in Marylebone, a repurposed former fire station, had been due to host a star-studded post-BAFTA Film Awards party on Sunday evening.
![[ Firefighters at the Chiltern Firehouse in central London, after a fire broke out on Valentine's Day. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said that 20 fire engines and about 125 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze on Chiltern Street in Marylebone on Friday. Picture date: Saturday February 15, 2025. The blaze ripped through ducting at Chiltern Firehouse, forcing about 100 people to be evacuated from the five-star London hotel and restaurant.
]](https://e3.365dm.com/25/02/768x432/skynews-london-chiltern-firehouse-hotel_6831857.jpg?20250217182656)
It spread via ducting, pipes, or tubes used to ventilate buildings, and damaged parts of the ground floor and half of the second floor and destroyed the third floor and roof of the four-storey hotel, London Fire Brigade said. Assistant commissioner Paul McCourt said: "Crews worked incredibly hard for over eight hours in arduous conditions. "Presented with a complex fire in a historically significant building, formerly Manchester Square Fire Station, firefighters successfully contained the fire, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring properties.".
![[The fire is in London's Marylebone area]](https://e3.365dm.com/25/02/768x432/skynews-chiltern-firehouse_6828974.jpg?20250214200758)
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News. Around 100 people were evacuated and there were no injuries as a result of the blaze, which started shortly before 3pm on Friday and was tackled by around 125 firefighters. Be the first to get Breaking News. Install the Sky News app for free. The venue's bar and restaurant are popular with British stars, as well as celebrities visiting the capital.
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