Thirty-five firefighters and officers tackled a fire in a pub with flats above it on the Strand in central London this evening.
Fifty people left the building before the arrival of the Brigade and there were no reports of any injuries but sadly a dog died in the fire.
Half of the third floor and a section of the loft was damaged in the blaze. The Brigade believes that the fire was caused by the careless disposal of cigarettes.
Station Manager Jim Smith who was at the scene said:
“Thankfully those inside the building were given an early warning by the smoke alarm. I can’t stress how important it is to have smoke alarms on every floor of your home and to test them regularly. If this building didn’t have smoke alarms there could have been a very different outcome.
"The crew's speedy work contained the fire quickly which helped minimise the damage and nearby police officers helped to evacuate the pub. It's also vital that you stub your cigarette right out when you've finished it."
Six fire engines from stations including Soho, Euston and Lambeth fire stations attended the scene.
The Brigade was called at 2010 and the fire was under control at 2141.