Fire rips through Oxford Street shop in central London
7 March 2020, 00:24
Dozens of firefighters are tackling a blaze that has ripped through a shop on one of central London's busiest roads.
Ten fire engines and roughly 70 firefighters were called to the property on the corner of Oxford Street and Gilbert Street in Mayfair.
Crews were called to the blaze on Friday evening after a fire broke out at a souvenir shop called Colour London.
Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing out from the building as the London Fire Brigade tackled the inferno.
Oxford Street was partially closed in both directions between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus, forcing commuters and tourists to use alternative routes and avoid the area.
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are tackling a fire at a shop on Gilbert Street in #Mayfair More information to follow pic.twitter.com/L7V7xVY4Q2
— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) March 6, 2020
"The ground floor of the five-storey building is alight. The Brigade's 999 Control Officers have taken 12 calls to the blaze," the LFB said.
Fire crews from Soho, Lambeth, Kensington, Chelsea, Kentish Town, Euston and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
It is not currently known how the fire started.
Transport for London confirmed that several bus routes had been forced to terminate early or divert because of the blaze.
