A fire that burned behind walls and under floors has caused damage to a block of flats in Hampstead.
Fire crews tore down the ceiling to access the blaze on the first and second floors of a building in Pilgrim’s Lane at 10.30pm yesterday.
Residents of the flat were out when the fire started and smoke alarms alerted the other occupants of the building.
Five people from the neighbouring flats were evacuated before the fire brigade arrived and no one was injured.
Parts of the block of flats were damaged.
Watch manager Russell Darnborough, who was at the fire, said: “There was a lot of smoke when we arrived and discovered the fire was burning behind walls, under floors and along ceiling joists.
“Fire crews had to tear down the ceilings to access the fire and put it out.”
Neighbours praised the quick response of firefighters.
Lisa Deaner, 50, of Pilgrim’s Lane, said: “We didn’t smell anything at all but I saw the fire engines, loads of lights and we heard them, we were watching from our front room.
“They were very efficient the London Fire Brigade, they were fantastic.”
London Fire Brigade said the cause of the fire is under investigation but is thought to be an electrical fault.
Four fire engines and around 21 firefighters and officers from West Hampstead and Kentish Town fire stations attended the incident.
The blaze was under control at 11.45pm.
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