Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters and officers were called to a fire in a block of flats on Daleham Gardens in Hampstead during the early hours of this morning. An aerial appliance was also used to help fight the fire.
Crews rescued a woman from the building but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene. Around 20 people left the flats before the Brigade arrived.
The fire badly damaged the ground and first floors of the four storey building, as well as destroying its roof and second and third floors.
Tom George, London Fire Brigade’s Director of Operations, said: “The first two fire engines arrived at the scene in under five minutes, within our target response times of six minutes for an appliance to arrive at an incident.
“The cause of this fire is not yet known and is being investigated.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who sadly died in this fire.”
Motorists were advised to avoid the area while crews dealt with the incident.
The Brigade was called at 0152 and the fire was under control at 0452. Firefighters will remain at the scene damping down throughout the morning.
Fire crews from West Hampstead, Kentish Town, Euston, Paddington and Holloway fire stations attended the scene.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.