Jubilee line reopens but Metropolitan line at Finchley Road Tube station remains closed as fire crews continue to attend blaze above chicken shop
Commuters to Finchley Road faced delays this evening, after both the Tube station and Finchley Road itself were closed as a blaze at an apartment block continued to rage into its 11th hour.
Both the Metropolitan and Jubilee lines were closed, while the road was blocked off in both directions. However the Jubilee line has since reopened, according to Transport for London.
Fire crews were called to the block of flats just before 6.30am today, leading 23 people to safety from the 25 flats in the building.
Great fire of #FinchleyRoad still burning 12 hours later… Road closed in both directions @LondonFire on the ground pic.twitter.com/sRVBLGZWpw
— Francesca O’Neill 🇺🇦 (@london_counsel) October 26, 2015
Some 12 people were treated for smoke inhalation, while a two-year old child was taken to hospital as a precaution.
The London Fire Brigade said as many as 70 firefighters had attended, while eight fire engines remained on the scene this evening.
It added that the incident was protracted "due to the complex layout of the building and the fact that the fire had got into the voids between the floors of the building".
Just another day at the office! Hats off to all the @LondonFire who have been working on this all day! #FinchleyRoad pic.twitter.com/hiGXwROtUX
— Kim cattle (@Kimcattle) October 26, 2015
"Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are entering the building to tackle deep-seated pockets of fire. The road is likely to remain closed for the next couple of hours and firefighters are likely to be present for most of the evening."
The cause of the fire is not known.
@salvationarmyuk responding to #FinchleyRoad fire with @LondonFire since early hours of this morning! pic.twitter.com/FMSAFdcN0i
— Heidi Damon (@HeidiDamon) October 26, 2015