Fire in Central London

[Joey]

Walking along the Thames yesterday I spotted a column of smoke on the opposite bank, then saw flames shooting into the air. I had a camera with me and a long lense so got on the top of the nearest building... It was a luxury hotel being renovated. Seems workmen on the roof were soldering lead and set light to the roof cladding. Twenty fire wagons attended.

http://politicsworldwide.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fire-Marconi-House-21.jpg

http://politicsworldwide.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fire-Marconi-House-20.jpg

http://politicsworldwide.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fire-Marconi-House-6.jpg

http://politicsworldwide.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/fire-Marconi-House-4.jpg

I took this through a 1000mm lense. I didn't think it would work...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76-bP7JncSc

[old Grump]

Well there went a lot of work up in smoke and everybody's insurance rates just took a hit in a bad economy. Construction company at fault, if a fire guard had been on duty it would have been just a small localized incident instead of a major fire. I hope nobody got badly hurt in this but from the looks it was bad for whoever was under it because of all the falling burning debris.

[Joey]

There was a good evacuation procedure, apparently, and only one minor injury. Fire crews were damping down all night. It's the Marconi building - scene of the first BBC broadcast in 1922.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/6/14/1308051401182/Smoke-rises-from-a-large--006.jpg