Five people have been taken to hospital and 18 evacuated after a blaze ripped through a north London kebab shop.
The fire completely destroyed the restaurant after it broke out at around 3.15am. Residents who live above the restaurant in Seven Sisters Road, Holloway were evacuated using a ladder and people have been warned to stay away and close their windows.
Around 100 firefighters are at the scene, after the The London Fire Brigade said the whole of the ground floor of the building is alight.
Veysel Kesel, 61, was evacuated from his home next to the kebab shop.
He was standing at the fire cordon draped in a blanket hoping that his home was not too badly damaged.
He told Metro: ‘It was the middle of the night. We ran for our lives. I hope my flat is ok. It’s very cold and I don’t want to be homeless especially with the holidays coming up.’
Islington Council is arranging temporary shelter for those evacuated.
A woman 25, who was also evacuated told Metro: ‘I live with three flat mates. When the alarm was raised we ran out.
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‘It must have been one of the coldest nights of the year we are freezing. We hope we can get in soon we don’t want to be homeless at Christmas.’
Fire press spokesman Mike Watts told Metro: ‘Five people have been taken to hospital as a precaution and 18 evacuated.
‘Firefighters from all over London, as far away as Croydon are here.
‘The kebab shop was completely destroyed and we have to make a gas main line safe. An investigation by us and police is underway.’
Firefighters in breathing apparatus and on turntable ladders are still fighting the blaze but it is under control, fire officials say.
Station Commander Mike Watts, who is at the scene, said: ‘There are road closures in place and we urge people to avoid the area, particularly as we head into rush hour, due to congestion in the area.’
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: ‘Crews are continuing to tackle the fire in Holloway.
‘Please avoid the area, particularly as we head into rush hour.
‘The fire is producing a lot of smoke – local residents are advised to keep their windows & doors closed.’
Firefighters were also called to another incident just a few miles away in West Hampstead where an end-of-terrace house converted into flats had also caught alight.
Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters tackled theblaze on Lyncroft Gardens in West Hampstead.
Part of the roof of the building was alight. Firefighters evacuated around 25 people to safety. There were no reports of any injuries.
Station Commander Ken Spratt, who was at the scene, said: ‘One of the Brigade’s 64-metre turntable ladders was used at the scene as a water tower to tackle the fire from height.
‘Drones were also used to survey the incident from above, providing incident commanders with an aerial view to support with developing tactics.
‘West Hampstead Fire Station has been set up as a rest centre for residents affected by the fire.’
The first call was made to the Brigade’s Control Officers just after 3am and the fire was under control just over two hours later.
Fire crews from West Hampstead, Paddington, North Kensington, Hendon and surrounding fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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