Camden Market fire – Huge blaze rips through iconic London attraction as 70 firefighters battle flames and smoke seen for miles around

A HUGE blaze ripped through London's iconic Camden Lock Market last night with 70 firefighters battling the flames.

Pictures from the scene showed pillars of black smoke erupting from the North London tourist hub as people reported seeing flames from miles around.

Emergency services, who were called to the market just before midnight, asked people to avoid the area, taping off part of Camden High Street.

Authorities have confirmed the isolated fire broke out in a building adjacent to the Market Hall area of Camden Lock Market.

Flames were seen erupting from an Honest Burger restaurant, with London Fire Brigade confirming the three floors were alight as onlookers reported seeing the blaze rapidly spreading through the market.

There were fears the flames could spread to surrounding wooden buildings as firefighters were seen inspecting gutted market units.

Onlookers described the fire "moving very fast", raising fears of explosions if it reached nearby restaurants.

Station manager David Reid, who was at the scene, said: "Crews worked hard to get the fire under control and to stop it from spreading to neighbouring buildings."

It is understood around 30% of the first, second, and third floors, and a third of the roof of the building, was damaged by the fire, which was brought under control by around 2.50am.

Eyewitness Danny Judge, who was working at the Lockside Lounge bar, said:  “In just a few minutes the flames went from nothing to absolutely everywhere.

“It spread so quickly and the heat was intense. Security quickly started evacuating people from the bar — there was just a sense of shock.

"Luckily the area should have been empty at this time of night as it was closed.”

Another witness to the fire tweeted:  "Just drove past Camden market and there's a huge fire on top a building, close to the Loch Bridge! Crazy crazy scenes."

Witness Joan Ribes, 24, said on Monday: "I was just passing by when I saw the fire and they started to get firefighters and police, it was all very fast.

"We called the police to close the street to the traffic because it was very dangerous, the fire was flying through the air to the surrounding areas.

"The fire was moving very fast. People were watching, but we were scared the building could explode at any time since there are restaurants with kitchens nearby."

A London Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We were called at 00.07 today to reports of a fire at Camden Lock Market.

"We sent a clinical team leader and our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) to the scene.

"We have not treated any patients, and we remain at the scene."

The Metropolitan Police said it had also been called to the incident and officers were remaining in the area.

London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire is under investigation and its crews will remain at the scene during the morning to dampen down hot spots.

A very small section of Camden Lock Market will be closed as a precaution today while the rest of the area will be open as usual

Some witnesses reportedly claimed the ferocious blaze started at Indian restaurant Gilgamesh – which is located in the market hall, reports the Mail Online.

A spokeswoman for Market Tech, the major shareholder in Camden Lock Market, said the fire was "isolated" to one building.

She said: "Thankfully no-one was injured during the incident.

"While a small section of Camden Lock Market will be closed off to the public until further notice as a precaution, the rest of Camden Lock Market and the wider area, including Stables Market and Union Street, will be fully open and operating and welcoming visitors and customers as usual."

The market attracts about 250,000 visitors each week and has been struck by fire several times.

There are more than 1,000 shops and stalls in the attraction, which is split into several areas.

The latest Camden blaze comes just weeks after at least 80 people were killed in the Grenfell Tower fire disaster.

The organisation investigating cladding from the Grenfell Tower fire is also probing solar panels fitted to thousands of homes, schools and businesses.

The Building Research Establishment, a government fire safety contractor, is examining cases of panels catching alight.

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