A FIRE has broken out at a luxury five star hotel with 100 people being evacuated from the historic building.
Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, central London, has been engulfed by a blaze that has torn through the ground floor up to the roof of the celebrity hotspot.
Emergency services have cordoned off the area[/caption]
London Fire Brigade said the hotel was suffering from an inferno, with the building’s ducting in its extraction system on fire.
20 fire engines and around 125 firefighters are currently at the scene of the blaze.
London Fire Brigade said earlier in a statement: “Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters have been called to a fire at a hotel and restaurant on Chiltern Street in Marylebone.
“The ducting in the extraction system from the ground floor to the roof of the building is alight.
“Around 100 people were evacuated before the Brigade arrived.”
The fire brigade has been called at 2.52pm, with fire crews from Soho, Euston, and Paddington attending the scene.
London Fire Brigade added: “The Brigade was called at 1452.
“Fire crews from Soho, Euston and Paddington fire stations are at the scene.
“The cause of the fire is not known at this time.”
An employee in a shop on Chiltern Street, where the property is located, told Metro how the roof was entirely ablaze.
They said: “It is really f****d. It is not under control any more and everyone is evacuating.”
One member of staff for the hotel arrived for work to find the iconic venue engulfed in flames.
They said: “It is shocking – I just hope everyone is okay.”
Other workers on the street described how the situation was worsening as smoke billowed from the roof of the structure.
A cafe, How Matcha, at the end of the street is providing free hot drinks to dozens of evacuated guests who are huddling out in the cold.
Firefighters were faced with thick smoke when battling the blaze[/caption]
Fire crews from across London rushed to the scene[/caption]
The blaze seen from a neighbouring street[/caption]
How Matcha’s owner expressed how he was saddened for both the community and the building as the fire raged on down the street.
The blaze erupted just hours before Valentine’s Day dinner service.
Chiltern Firehouse, both a hotel and restaurant, is incredibly popular with both A-list celebrities and royals.
Owned by American hotelier Andre Balazs, the enterprise occupies a Grade II listed building that was formerly a fire station.
The luxury hotel, which has 26 suites, opened in 2013 and was once dubbed as “London’s hottest celebrity hangout”.
Balazs also owns two hotels in the US: Sunset Beach Hotel on Shelter Island, New York, and Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, California.
Celebrities and royals ranging from Lewis Capaldi to Princess Beatrice have been spotted on the premises of the luxury hotel and restaurant in recent months.
Do you know more about this fire? Email [email protected] or call our newsdesk on 020 7782 4100.
Fire crews attending the scene at the iconic Chiltern Firehouse hotel in central London[/caption]
The cause of the fire is not yet known[/caption]
Fire crews attempting to extinguish the blaze[/caption]
Fire crews using a large crane to help fight the blaze[/caption]
Fire and smoke from the top of the building[/caption]
The blaze seen earlier[/caption]
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