City centre fire not under control

12 April 2012

Firefighters are still battling to control a blaze that broke out in an historic area of central London.

A spokesman for the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said 75 firefighters and 15 fire engines were at the scene of the blaze in Field House, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane.

More than 100 people were evacuated after the blaze broke out in the office block at about 3.40pm on Wednesday.

The spokesman said: "About 75% of the roof was damaged by the fire.

"We are doing salvage work on floors up to the fourth floor.

"The fire is not completely under control and we are making sure it does not spread to adjacent buildings."

An LFB spokesman said there were no reports of anyone trapped on the the fifth floor and roof of the building which housed the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal.

He added they believed there were gas cylinders on the roof of the building which was undergoing refurbishment.

One eyewitness described a "huge black plume of smoke" rising into the sky as fire engines rushed to the scene.

A Tribunals Service spokeswoman said: "All hearings due to take place (on Thursday) are cancelled and it is likely that all hearings at Field House will be postponed for the remainder of this week."

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