A 60-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after a blaze ripped through his room at a Camden Town hostel for the homeless. At around 7.30pm yesterday (February 24), Arlington House, on Arlington Road had to be evacuated after a fire started i

A 60-year-old man is fighting for his life in hospital after a blaze ripped through his room at a Camden Town hostel for the homeless.

At around 7.30pm yesterday (February 24), Arlington House, on Arlington Road had to be evacuated after a fire started in one of the resident's rooms. Camden Police, the London Fire Brigade and the London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene. All other residents were safely led out of the building.

The blaze comes in the same week that a pensioner died from extensive burns in a care home in Gospel Oak. He reportedly set himself on fire after smoking a cigarette.

The Arlington House blaze is not being treated as suspicious by the police. Although the cause is not yet known police told the Ham&High early investigations suggest it was an "accident".

The elderly victim was taken by ambulance to a central London hospital. He remains in a critical condition and according to police he will suffer from life changing injuries. The flames were contained to one room, and no other residents or members of the staff were injured. All of them were allowed to re-enter the building when the fire brigade judged it was safe.

Police and LFB are still investigating on the exact cause of the blaze.

On Tuesday former residents of Arlington House John Chaproniere and Stephen Coster, both 29 were sentenced to imprisonment at Blackfriars Crown on February 23 for trying to torch the building in June 2008 while 100 occupants lay asleep in bed.

Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed Thursday's fire or can provide information to call Camden police on 0300 123 1212.

Nella Prod'homme