A significant fire erupted today at a mid-terraced house converted into flats on Lexham Gardens, Kensington. The blaze engulfed part of a fourth-room flat on the fifth floor, prompting a large-scale response from the London Fire Brigade (LFB).
Firefighters arrived with ten fire engines and approximately 70 crew members to tackle the fire. The emergency call was received at 12:31 pm, with teams dispatched from Fulham, Wandsworth, Paddington, and nearby stations.
The LFB battled the flames vigorously and managed to bring the fire under control by 2:21 pm, roughly two hours after the initial call.
The brigade used a 32-metre turntable ladder as a water tower to douse the fire from above. Thick smoke spread across the Kensington area, causing concern among local residents and onlookers.
Two people were treated at the scene by London Ambulance Service paramedics for smoke inhalation. Fortunately, no serious injuries have been reported.
The cause of the fire remains unknown as the Brigade’s Fire Investigation Team has launched an inquiry. The investigation is focusing on possible structural and electrical faults and aims to identify the fire’s origin within the flat.
An LFB spokesperson said, “We responded promptly and efficiently to a significant fire in a residential building. Our crews worked exceptionally hard to prevent the fire from spreading further and to ensure the safety of residents.”
Residents of Lexham Gardens were shocked as many were evacuated as a precaution. Local resident Anna Miller described the scenes: “I saw thick black smoke billowing from the building. It was terrifying, especially seeing so many fire engines arriving. Thankfully, the firefighters seemed to get it under control quickly.”
Social media was filled with footage of the rising smoke. One tweet read: “Scary scenes in Kensington today – hope everyone’s safe. Huge respect to the firefighters.”
The LFB urged residents to ensure their homes have working smoke alarms and to practice fire evacuation plans. They emphasized the importance of reporting any fire hazards or suspicious activity immediately.
The Fire Investigation Team is appealing to anyone who witnessed the fire’s start or has video footage to come forward. If you have information, please contact the London Fire Brigade on 0800 032 0101.
Originally published by UKNIP.
