A major fire has been reported in London.
Smoke is billowing over London. People have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share pictures and videos of smoke filling the skies a as a fire rages through a central London building.
An eyewitness, @weberolivier, said: “It absolutely stinks here in Oxford Circus. The air is hazy with smoke”.
Crews responded to a fire at a mixed-use building near Tottenham Street, Euston, at 07:43 GMT on Thursday, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
Six fire engines are in attendance as emergency services tackle the blaze. The LFB has urged the public to avoid the central London area amid safety concerns.
A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: “Six fire engines and around 40 firefighters are at the scene of a fire near Tottenham Street in Fitzrovia. Please avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed due to smoke travel.”
The fire is thought to be under control and is expected to be put out soon, although half of the ground floor of the mixed-used building is alight.
The brigade is reportedly using one of its 32m turntable ladders to tackle the fire from above.
Firefighters from Soho, Euston, Islington, and surrounding fire stations are at the scene.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
KEY EVENTS
At least one person treated by paramedics
At least one person is being treated by paramedics at the scene, emergency services have confirmed.
Control Officers took the first of 14 calls regarding the fire at around 7.30am.
The LFB say the fire is expected to be out soon as they battle to extinguish the blaze using 32-metre turntable ladders.
Locals descibe ‘toxic and acrid’ smell
A local resident has described the smell of smoke as “horrendous” and “like burning chemicals”.
They added that it was a “toxic and acrid” smell, the BBC reports.
At least one person has been seen by paramedics as smoke continues to fill the skies.
What we know so far
People across London captured a huge cloud of smoke over London this morning.
A fire started near Tottenham Street in Fitzrovia.
The emergency services, including six fire engines and 40 firefighters, are at the scene.
The fire service is urging residents in the area to keep their windows and doors closed.
