Firework 'fired by teenagers' narrowly misses bystander and sparks blaze at £3m house

 
Fire: Flames at the scene last night at the expensive property
Ben Morgan24 October 2014

A stray firework narrowly missed a pedestrian before setting a £3 million South Kensington mews house on fire.

Firefighters were called to the blaze at the vacant three-storey property in an exclusive cul-de-sac off Brompton Road which was covered in scaffolding for a double-basement excavation.

Witnesses said the rocket was fired by teenagers who watched from nearby as the flames took hold.

Ian Bowden, 57, said: “I was walking down the street and it flashed past me. Nothing happened for about five minutes and then the house just went up in flames.”

Fire crews work to tackle the blaze last night Picture: Nigel Howard

Richard Quigley, 69, was in the Hour Glass pub next door when regulars were told they were in danger, but thought it was a joke.

A fireman on scaffolding in the midst of the blaze Picture: Nigel Howard

He said: “We were sitting having a drink when someone came in and said there was a fire, but we all thought it was a wind up.

“We went outside and within seconds the flames were getting bigger and bigger. It reached the second floor of the house. The fire brigade was here within three minutes.

Firefighters at the scene on Brompton Road Picture: Nigel Howard

“If they hadn’t, the flames would’ve got to the top of the building and anything could’ve happened.”

The fire was brought under control by midnight last night Picture: Nigel Howard

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade said they were called to the road at 10pm last night to reports of a fire affecting a three-storey house and a pub.

The fire had been brought under control by midight.

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