EXCLUSIVE: Guy Ritchie’s Fitzrovia pub is left with a huge hole in the roof after huge blaze required 70 firefighters and saw first responders vomiting at the intensity of the smoke
- The fire, which broke out at around 12.15pm, is said to have started in an extraction system from the first floor to the roof vent
- The intensity of the flames caused a hole to appear in the building’s roof, with an eyewitness stating that one fire fighter vomited as a result of the smoke
- London Fire Brigade station commander Jason Fisby said: ‘Access to the seat of the fire is challenging and very labour intensive…
- ‘The number of fire engines at the scene is a reflection of the need for a high turn over of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus’
- No injuries have been reported
- Guy opened the pub in 2019 following a host of other hospitality ventures
Guy Ritchie’s pub was left with a huge hole in the roof after a fire broke out on Wednesday, with a witness saying the smoke was so intense that it caused first responders to vomit.
Around 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines attended the Lore of the Land pub in Conway Street, Fitzrovia, at 12.15pm, where the fire is said to have started in an extraction system from the first floor to the roof vent.
In pictures taken during the incident, smoke can be seen coming from the venue while firefighters continue working to make the brick pub safe.
Guy Ritchie’s Camden Pub was left holes in the roof after a fire broke out on Wednesday and 70 firefighters battled the blaze, with a witness saying the ‘smoke was so intense’
A eyewitness whose property backs onto the pub saw the smoke billowing from their fifth floor balcony and described the moment firefighters battled the blaze.
The neighbour told MailOnline: ‘At one stage the roof had smoke coming out of every tile, it was quite a scene.
‘The chimneys, which I don’t think are fully functioning, had smoke coming out too and firefighters had to pour water down them.
The Lore Of The Land pub opened in 2019 and is one of many of the director’s hospitality ventures (pictured in 2016)
‘I saw one firefighter being sick because the smoke was so intense, which was why they all had breathing equipment.’
After getting the blaze under control, firefighters were then seen pulling off the tiles on the roof leaving the property with gaping holes.
The neighbour added: ‘They were clipping them off one by one to let air through. So now you can see into the top floor through the roof.
‘It’s going to be quite a repair job. But thankfully it’s seems like nobody was injured. It could have been a lot worse.’
Pictures taken by an eyewitness show white smoke coming out of the chimney and a door
Firefighters poured water on the roof in an attempt to put out the blaze, which is said to have started in an extraction system from the first floor to the roof vent
The witness described how they saw saw ‘one firefighter being sick because the smoke was so intense’
Speaking on Wednesday, London Fire Brigade station commander Jason Fisby said: ‘Access to the seat of the fire is challenging and very labour intensive.
‘The number of fire engines at the scene is a reflection of the need for a high turn over of firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. Firefighters are carrying out salvage work and trying to prevent water damage on the floors below.’
No injuries have been reported since the blaze broke out. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Guy and London Fire Brigade for comment.
A blaze broke out at Guy Ritchie’s Camden pub on Wednesday (pictured the front of the venue)
The top floor fire was tackled by over 70 firefighters who arrived at the scene in 10 engines
Dozens of firefighters were seen close by to the pub and getting their uniforms on
The Lore Of The Land secretly opened its doors in 2019, marking Guy’s return to pub ownership for the first time since he and Madonna owned the Punch Bowl in Mayfair.
The swanky menu features venison, which is brought in from Guy’s Wiltshire estate, Ashcombe, where Cecil Beaton lived.
Beer served is from his Gritchie Brewing Company alongside bar snacks including Jerusalem artichoke pate with crispy chicken skin and a seed cracker.
When the pub opened, it was revealed that Guy took incredible care to make sure that every plate, glass and picture in the pub was handpicked by him.
While trying to stop the flames, firefighters ripped off dozens of roof tiles to let the smoke out, according to an eyewitness
One section of the roof seemed to be worse hit, missing dozens of tile (right) by the time the firefighters were back on the ground following the fire (left, pictured with smoke out the door)
Firefighters rose above the building to pour water on the blaze, appearing to focus their efforts on the chimney area
70 firefighters were needed due to them having to wear breathing apparatus and the seat of the fire being difficult to access
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Guy for comment.
The blaze comes after Guy’s £10m home was targeted by burglars in December – in an echo of one of his crime films. Raiders rifled through rooms in the director’s Georgian house in London but left empty-handed as police rushed to the scene.
It is not known if Madonna’s ex-husband – whose films include Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch – was home at the time of the raid.
The burglars were ‘seen by an occupant,’ said a source, adding: ‘Shortly afterwards the police turned up and the suspects legged it up the street and got away.’
Firefighters descended on the blaze that raged on Wednesday afternoon (pictured)
Several firefighters were also seen outside the pub with hoses while working at the building
Another snap from the scene showed a firefighter spraying water onto a burnt roof
The fire, which broke out at around 12.15pm, is said to have started in an extraction system from the first floor to the roof vent
The London fire brigade station commanded said firefighters were doing ‘salvage work and trying to prevent water damage on the floors below’ (pictured are two men at the scene)
Police also attended the scene during the afternoon
Several members of the public stopped to have a look from a cordon while the firefighters worked at salvaging the building
Guy shares the eight-bedroom home in Fitzrovia with wife Jacqui Ainsley, 39. They split their time between the London home and their 18th-century estate in Wiltshire which was given to him as part of his divorce with Madonna in 2008.
A burglar broke into the country mansion in 2010. A neighbour said at the time: ‘This is shocking and always a worry when you hear of an incident like that…
‘We all hire private security companies to protect us. I pay £3,700 a month. That’s for private security to do walks at night and keep an eye out. They monitor the area.’
Beer served is from his Gritchie Brewing Company alongside bar snacks including Jerusalem artichoke pate with crispy chicken skin and a seed cracker
Guy shares his eight-bedroom home in Fitzrovia with wife Jacqui Ainsley, 39
The neighbour told The Sun: ‘We believe organised criminals operate in the area and target these homes. It’s a very nice area. We know we’re going to be a target. I hope the police can find the people responsible. We need to feel safe.’
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘Detectives are investigating following a report of a burglary at a residential address in Fitzrovia.
‘It is not believed anything was taken.’
Ritchie and his wife split their time between the London home (pictured) and their 18th-century estate in Wiltshire which was given to him as part of his divorce settlement with Madonna in 2008
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