Huge fire rips through historic church in north London: Around 80 firefighters are scrambled to tackle blaze in St John’s Wood
- Flames from St Mark’s Church could be seen lighting up the night sky
- It is unclear if there have been any injuries
Dozens of firefighters were battling a blaze at a heritage-listed church in north-west London last night.
Some 80 firefighters have been sent to St Mark’s Church in Hamilton Terrace, St John’s Wood, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) said.
The whole of the two-storey building is alight, with residents asked to keep doors and windows closed due to the significant amount of smoke being produced.
The LFB said it is using three ladders, including the tallest in Europe at around 210ft, as towers to distribute water evenly.
The National Churches Trust lists St Mark’s as a grade II Victorian church, containing ‘stunning’ mosaics by the Salviati family as well as highly decorative marble flooring in the chancel.
The Anglican church is located near Abbey Road Studios and Lord’s Cricket Ground, and has links to author Lewis Carroll and Queen Victoria’s son Prince Leopold.
The trust describes it as an ‘architectural and historical treasure’, which finished construction between 1846 and 1847 in the Gothic style to the design of architect Thomas Cundy Junior.
Around 80 firefighters were scrambled last night to tackle a massive blaze in a church in north London. Flames from St Mark’s Church could be seen lighting up the night sky as twelve fire engines were rushed to the scene
London Fire Brigade said: ‘Twelve fire engines and around 80 firefighters have been called to a church fire on Hamilton Terrace in St John’s Wood. The whole of the two-storey building is alight.
‘The fire is producing a significant amount of smoke in the local area and residents are advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
‘Firefighters are using two of the Brigade’s new 32-metre turntable ladders and a 64-metre turntable ladder (the tallest in Europe) at the scene as water towers, to get water on to the building externally.
‘The Brigade’s 999 Control Officers have taken almost 30 calls to the blaze.
‘The Brigade was called at 2319. Fire crews from North Kensington, Paddington, West Hampstead and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this time.’
