Kilburn fire: Firefighters rush to huge blaze with people 'choking on smoke'
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Firefighters rushed to the scene of a monster blaze in Kilburn that unleashed "choking" smoke on the London community this afternoon. Witnesses posting online have captured the smoke-filled streets of northwest London this afternoon, with fire trucks stationed around what appears to be an old Job Centre building. Dramatic pictures from the scene show black smoke pouring out of a disused brown-bricked building with graffiti scrawled on the front.
The fire can be seen pouring into the area's main street, with locals milling around the haze as firefighters and their trucks take position. London Fire Brigade said in a statement that it had marshalled a response from multiple nearby fire service crews, including from Paddington and Chelsea, to combat the fire.
A spokesperson added that around 10 fire engines and 70 firefighters rushed to the scene in northwest London this afternoon to the site of a derelict building. The service said in a statement: "Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters have been called to a fire at a derelict building on Coventry Close in Kilburn.".
The statement added that the entire ground floor of the building was on fire, and that three people have been helped to safety by crewmembers who had donned breathing apparatus. It continued: "The whole of the ground floor in the three storey building is alight. Three people have helped to safety by crews wearing breathing apparatus at the rear of the building.
"The Brigade's 999 Control officers received the first calling alerting them to the fire at 1443. They mobilised crews from West Hempstead, North Kensington, Paddington, Chelsea, Bethnal Green and Willesden fire stations. Crews are still at the scene." The LFB said the cause of the fire is unknown at this stage.
