Buildings evacuated and roads closed after fire in Moorgate

A fire broke out at a building in the City of London, closing several roads and forcing hundreds ofpeople to evacuate from nearby buildings

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) was called to the scene in Moorgate at lunchtime following reports of a fire at a disused office block.

Around 40 firefighters and six engines were called to the blaze, near the Barbican, which was first reported at 11.22am and brought under control by 12.48pm.

Approximately 1,248 people were evacuated as a precaution by the LFB, but no injuries were reported.

(ES)

Although the cause of the incident remains unknown, the LFB said it occurred in a plant room on the tenth floor, which was “destroyed” by the fire.

The brigade was called around 11.20am, and the fire was under control around an hour-and-a-half later, at 12.50pm.

“A large amount of smoke was being produced by the fire,” said LFB.

City of London Police closed several roads in the area while emergency services were at the scene.

Wood Street and Fore Street later reopened, but Moorfields remained shut as of around 1.30pm.

Dillan Patel, 27, who works in technology at the Ropemaker Building, was due to arrive at the office around lunchtime. He received a message from his colleagues at midday telling him the building had been evacuated.

View from my balcony 😱. Looks like a major fire in the building above the Rack & Tenter pub at Moorgate . Stinks of plastics. pic.twitter.com/HzVB1DQPRP

— Sarah Gaventa (@sgaventa) August 17, 2023

He told the Standard: “I believe the fire was at one of the adjacent buildings.”

One eyewitness said: “It was above the Rack and Tenter pub, by Citypoint. There were flames and smoke coming out of the top.”