Pic: the blaze in Camden
This is the shocking moment a fireball burst out of a souvenir shop in front of terrified tourists in Camden.
One man managed to flee the three-storey building in Camden High Street before firefighters arrived at just after 10pm last night.
The inferno badly damaged the Light Up T-Shirts store, which specialises in LED clothing and operates on the ground-floor.
Drinkers were evacuated from nearby pubs as a section of the street was cordoned off while fire teams doused the blaze.
Henry Crockett, a project manager from North Finchley, had just left a nearby pub when he smelt smoke and rang on resident’s doorbells to alert them to the flames.
The 28-year-old said: “I smelt something awful and saw a glow coming over the shutters and it just rapidly grew.
“I could tell there were flats at the top and rang all the bells I could find to get people out. The smoke was so thick and was bellowing out into the street I had to keep other people away from the fumes.”
Helena Holder, 19, studying German at University College London lives three doors down from the inferno.
She said: “We noticed this strange mist and thought it was heavy rain but then saw the flashing lights and knew something wasn’t right.
“We were very anxious to see if anyone was inside. Firemen were wearing respiratory gear so obviously that suggests something bad. We were worried the fire would spread to us because we’re very close.”
A worker at The Elephants Head pub said: “We had to empty the whole place. The Oxford Arms and Poppies as well, all the venues near the junction. The whole area was closed down but thankfully no one got hurt. Everyone is safe.”
London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire was still being investigated.
