Numerous firefighters spent over five hours battling a fire at a prestigious five-star hotel in Marylebone, central London, which resulted in the evacuation of 100 guests.
An inquiry has been initiated regarding the incident at the Chiltern Firehouse, a popular venue for celebrities that has welcomed stars such as Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, Tom Cruise, and Johnny Depp.
The London Fire Brigade reported that there were no injuries and indicated that teams would remain on-site throughout the night.
Originally, the Chiltern Firehouse was scheduled to host the Netflix party for the Bafta awards on Sunday; however, owner Andre Balazs announced that the establishment would “remain closed until further notice.”
Balazs noted that the cause of the fire is still undetermined, with fire investigators looking into the matter.
“We are relieved to report that everyone was safely evacuated, with no one injured,” he stated.
Social media footage depicted fire crews utilizing a crane to extinguish flames that had spread to the upper part of the building.
According to the London Fire Brigade, the fire originated in ducting and advanced from the ground floor to the roof of the four-level hotel.
The blaze extended to the second and third stories, but crews managed to contain it, working under difficult conditions and preventing it from reaching adjacent buildings.
Firefighters from Euston, Soho, Paddington, West Hampstead, Kensington, Chelsea, and nearby stations were dispatched to the emergency.
Balazs expressed profound gratitude, remarking how they witnessed a remarkable response of 140 firefighters from over 20 stations arriving rapidly, some of whom had a personal connection to the site, recalling when it functioned as a fire station 30 years earlier.
“I sincerely appreciate each one of them, and I know this wasn’t the Valentine’s Day evening they anticipated,” he added.
Situated on Chiltern Street, the hotel occupies the former site of a Victorian fire station built in 1889.
In 2013, the Chiltern Firehouse opened its doors as a hotel with 26 suites and a restaurant that seats 200 guests.
Guy Fischman, a 23-year-old who was walking home from work near Bond Street, reported observing “embers” and an “orange glow” emanating from a window at the hotel.
The Richmond resident described a scene where “the entire street was filled with smoke.”
“My coat reeks of smoke right now,” Fischman commented.
“The smoke was incredibly thick, affecting visibility significantly. I didn’t expect it to be this severe, particularly when I saw the embers at the window’s peak; it was so dark, with only the orange glow visible as firefighters valiantly battled the flames with water jets.”
