Fire crews tackle Soho office blaze (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Fire crews tackle Soho office blaze

3:41pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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Sixty firefighters tackled a blaze in a bustling area of central London.

Crews were called to Dean Street in Soho at around 2pm on Friday and about an hour later about 10% of the building was alight, London Fire Brigade said.

Twelve fire engines were sent to fight the flames, which erupted in what is believed to be an office building.

The cause of the fire is not yet known.

A company called Future Capital is based in the building.

One man who was evacuated from the site said: "We've all been evacuated in the last hour. The fire started in an air conditioning duct."

Soho is a busy area of central London filled with shops, bars and restaurants and tourists clamoured to get a glimpse of the flames. Fire engines struggled through the crowds to get to the building.

Kensington fire station manager Andy Pike said the blaze was now under control but the area was likely to be cordoned off for at least five or six hours.

He said 50 people were evacuated from the four-storey office building.

No members of public were injured but two firefighters were slightly hurt.