Smoke is billowing over London. People have taken to X, formerly Twitter, to share pictures and videos of smoke filling the skies after a fire raged through two buildings in central London.
An eyewitness, @weberolivier, said: “It absolutely stinks here in Oxford Circus. The air is hazy with smoke”.
Crews responded to at least 14 calls regarding a fire near Tottenham Street, Euston, at 07:43 GMT on Thursday, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
Six fire engines raced to the scene as emergency services tackled the blaze. The LFB 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.”
Half of the ground floor of the mixed-used building is alight, the LFB said.
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, with the blaze now thought to be under control.
Alec McNally, station commander at the LFB, said: “This morning crews were called to a fire at Tottenham Street that involved two buildings.
“[They] had to put out a fire that had developed onto an atrium-style conservatory, which was towards the roof of the building.”
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