Got sent home from work earlier

[LondonLiverpoolFan]

The annoying thing about it was that the fire alarms went off in our building and thinking it was just a drill I left all my stuff inside only for the fire brigade to tell us that we wouldn't be allowed back into our building until tomorrow

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5295874.stm

 

 

Royal Academy of Arts fire rages

 

Firefighters are tackling a major blaze at a Royal Academy of Arts building in central London.

The fire took hold at Burlington Gardens in Piccadilly - one of London's most prestigious shopping areas - creating huge amounts of smoke.

 

The Royal Academy said the building, formerly the Museum of Mankind, is currently empty and describes it as a "separate site".

 

Sixty firefighters are at the scene, trying to bring it under control.

 

 

Eye-witness Rachael White, 29, described seeing grey smoke billowing from the building behind the arts academy and a strong smell of burning in the air.

 

BBC London's Anjana Gadgil said: "We can see smoke billowing off the Royal Academy building.

 

"Firefighters are confident they will get it under control, but at the moment the fire is still blazing".

 

Eight crews were first called to the fire, another four were sent later. Nearby buildings have been evacuated and the area has been cordoned off.

 

 

Piccadilly has been closed to cars from Hyde Park Corner to St James's Street eastbound.

 

A fire brigade spokesman said there was significant damage to the roof of the building.

 

A Royal Academy of Arts spokesman said: "At 1.45 pm today a fire was discovered at 6 Burlington Gardens, the Royal Academy's separate site, at the back of Burlington House.

 

The fire broke out on the west corner of the roof at 6 Burlington Gardens, triggering the fire alarm."

 

He added they did not know yet know what caused the fire.

Edited August 29, 2006 by LondonLiverpoolFan