BLAZE HORROR
Celeb hotspot Chiltern Firehouse is on FIRE with inferno ‘spreading to the roof’ and 100 people evacuated
Fire crews raced from across the city to try and tackle the towering inferno
A FIRE has broken out at a luxury five star hotel with 100 people being evacuated from the historic building.
Chiltern Firehouse in Marylebone, central London, has been engulfed by a blaze that has torn through the ground floor up to the roof of the celebrity hotspot.
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London Fire Brigade said the hotel was suffering from an inferno, with the building's ducting in its extraction system on fire.
20 fire engines and around 125 firefighters were at the scene of the blaze.
A worker said: “Every floor has been destroyed.
“There’s no roof left - it has basically collapsed in on itself.
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“Only the ground floor is still somewhat intact.
“We’ve heard it will be at least a year before we can even think about opening again.”
As thick black smoke billowed from the swanky former fire station, one worker fumed: "The irony isn’t lost on us.
“We got the order to evacuate mid-afternoon.
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“Nobody’s been let back in – we’ve no idea what’s going to happen.”
The blaze erupted on the ground floor, before tearing through the luxury pad, a favourite of A-listers like Elton John, Prince Harry and David Beckham.
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A shaken guest told The Sun: “I stepped outside and saw thick black smoke pouring out of the windows.
“It was like a disaster movie.”
London Fire Brigade said in a statement during the blaze: "Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters are currently tackling a fire at a hotel on Chiltern Street in Marylebone.
"There is a fire in ducting which leads from the ground floor to the roof of the four storey hotel with a restaurant on the ground floor.
"Around one hundred people have evacuated the building before the Brigade arrived."
The fire brigade has been called at 2.52pm, with fire crews from Soho, Euston, Paddington, West Hampstead, Kensington, Chelsea, and surrounding fire stations attending the scene.
London Fire Brigade added: "The Brigade's 999 Control officers were first called at 1452 and deployed fire crews from Euston, Soho, Paddington, West Hampstead, Kensington, Chelsea and surrounding fire stations and are still at the scene.
"The cause of the fire is not known at this stage."
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An employee in a shop on Chiltern Street, where the property is located, told how the roof was entirely ablaze.
They said: "It is really f****d. It is not under control any more and everyone is evacuating."
One member of staff for the hotel arrived for work to find the iconic venue engulfed in flames.
They said: "It is shocking - I just hope everyone is okay."
Other workers on the street described how the situation was worsening as smoke billowed from the roof of the structure.
A cafe, How Matcha, at the end of the street is providing free hot drinks to dozens of evacuated guests who are huddling out in the cold.
How Matcha's owner expressed how he was saddened for both the community and the building as the fire raged on down the street.
The blaze erupted just hours before Valentine's Day dinner service.
Westminster City Council said in a statement this evening: "London Fire Brigade are responding to a fire on Chiltern Street in Marylebone.
"Glanford St, Manchester St, Dorset St and Baker St are closed.
"If you are planning to travel within the area this evening, please use alternative routes where possible and stay clear of the area.
"We are working with LFB and emergency services to provide any support needed."
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Andre Balazs, owner of the Chiltern Firehouse, has now said: "We are grateful to confirm that no one was hurt, and our guests and staff safely evacuated.
"The fire has now been fully contained.
'It is with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation that we watched a remarkable 120 fire fighters from over 14 stations rapidly descend on what they told me was a hugely sentimental building for so many of them."
He added: "We know in fact one of those who rushed to the Chiltern Firehouse this evening had been stationed in the building when it was a fire station 30 years ago.
"I am truly grateful to all of them as I am sure that this is not the Valentine's Day evening they had in mind.
"As of now, as this is still a live situation we do not have confirmation of what may have caused the fire, but the fire services are investigating.
"In the meantime, the Chiltern Firehouse will remain closed until further notice."
Chiltern Firehouse, both a hotel and restaurant, is incredibly popular with both A-list celebrities and royals.
The enterprise occupies a Grade II listed building that was formerly a fire station.
The luxury hotel, which has 26 suites, opened in 2013 and was once dubbed as "London's hottest celebrity hangout".
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Balazs also owns two hotels in the US: Sunset Beach Hotel on Shelter Island, New York, and Chateau Marmont in Hollywood, California.
Celebrities and royals ranging from Lewis Capaldi to Princess Beatrice have been spotted on the premises of the luxury hotel and restaurant in recent months.
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