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Massive Fire at Camden Market
• Hawley Arms pub among buildings damaged as local traders fear for their livelihoods
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By
Miss Gingham, Contributing editor
Monday,
11 February, 2008
A fire tore through London's world famous Camden market on Saturday evening causing widespread damage. It is thought to have started in some gas cylinders stored in the market.
More than 100 firefighters fought the blaze in the crowded area, with flames shooting up to 30 feet high. The fire raged for three hours before the London Fire Brigade declared that it had been controlled.
The main area of the market is thought to be safe however with the blaze centring on storage areas but traders are concerned for their livelihoods as stock and stalls have been destroyed.
There were no reported fatalities although 29 people have had to be found temporary accommodation after being evacuated from their homes.
Storage areas for the famous Market took the brunt of the fire damage, along with popular local pub the Hawley Arms - a popular haunt for musicians such as Pete Doherty, Amy Winehouse, The Zutons, Kelly Osbourne, Razorlight, and Primal Scream's Bobby Gillespie.
In a word, I'm devastated," Ruth Charles-Ridler, the pub's landlady, said as she arrived at the scene to assess the damage Sunday morning. "Everyone I've spoken to is in complete shock. This was a good community pub where everybody knew everybody else. It is a great loss to Camden Town."
"It's quite a heavy blow," Steve Norris, a local business owner, told AP Television News. He said so many shops in the area are small businesses that they could have a difficult time coping with a big fall in customers.
The normally crowded commercial and residential area, complete with open markets and canals, is one of the British capital's top shopping and tourist destinations. Sunday is traditionally the busiest day of the week for shoppers at Camden Town's shops, coffee houses, pubs and open markets.
Many of the market traders are concerned for their livelihoods as stock and stalls have been destroyed. Police kept the burned-out area closed with a cordon on Sunday.Police have said that parts of Camden Town, in the north of the city, will be closed for three or four days as engineers inspect buildings in the area for structural damage.
Camden Council will be holding a meeting to organise help for businesses affected by the fire. They have directed interested parties to their website, http://www.camden.gov.uk, for details.
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, said: "Our thoughts are with those people affected by the fire in Camden Market - one of the most thriving markets in London and of enormous importance for the economy of the local area and beyond.
"Yet again the emergency services deserve our thanks for the speed and professionalism with which they have responded to tackle the blaze. Thankfully there appears to be no-one injured despite the fact that it is a dense area and on a Saturday evening would have been crowded."
The Naked Reader 2008
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