Camden News - WIEBKE TOEBELMANN Published: 30 October 2008
Fire damages the roof of the new Kings Place complex
Fiery start for Kings Place
A PLUSH new arts centre suffered a rooftop fire yesterday (Wednesday) lunchtime. The Fire Brigade called to the Kings Place in York Way, King’s Cross, as around 200 were safely evacuated.
Flames could be seen flicking skywards as firefighters took to the roof.
Eyewitnesses said they heard loud popping noises and bangs as smoke clouded the sky.
The state-of-the-art cultural centre has only been open for a month. It is a 10-storey building which contains offices, a restaurant, art galleries and the first major concert hall to be built in London since the Barbican.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but while the blaze looked dramatic to onlookers, the damage will not stop the building functioning.
A spokeswoman for Kings Place said: “A small fire broke out on the roof of the building and it was quickly put out by the fire brigade. The building was evacuated for a couple of hours. Nobody was hurt and the staff are now back at work. “At this stage we don’t know the cause of the fire but we believe it’s to do with the fitting out of one the floors in preparation for businesses moving in.”