Camden News: Belsize Park | Ozzie Jordan | Fire

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Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published:26 March 2009

The fire damaged flat

Blaze rips through busy shopping street

‘We went into the building. It felt like hours until the fire brigade got here. I was petrified’

SHOPKEEPERS in a sleepy corner of Belsize Park burst into action on Thursday afternoon after a blaze tore through a second-floor flat.
Ozzie Jordan charged into the burning building in England’s Lane after hearing shouts outside his wife’s beauty salon at around 1pm.
Flames were lashing out of the broken window and black smoke was billowing into the air – but firefighters at nearby Belsize Fire Station were away on a training day.
Mr Jordan said: “This young lad came rushing into the salon and took the fire extinguisher. He ran into the building – I tried to stop him but I ended up going after him.
“We went upstairs. You could see the cloud of black smoke and flames. There was smoke creeping along the ceiling. You see things like this in the films but in real life it feels really dangerous. I was petrified. It felt like hours until the fire brigade came – but it is a real close-knit community here. Everyone was happy to help out.”
A spokeswoman for London Fire Brigade said although Belsize Fire Station was unavailable that day four fire engines from West Hampstead, Euston, Kentish Town and Paddington arrived at the scene within 6 minutes.
But it felt like longer for most of the shopkeepers who came together to help stop the fire.
Emma Eorges, a receptionist at Fern Skin Clinic, said: “I evacuated the ladies and we stood in the street.
“I gave some wet towels to another shopkeeper who works in a basement shop.”
David Smith, the owner of wood-flooring business Ecora Limited, was almost struck by a window pane that blew out into the street and shattered just inches from where he was standing.
Local chemists scoured the shelves for medication for the woman, a popular holistic masseuse in her forties, who lived in the building.
Mr Jordan said: “Her hair was frazzled from the fire and she had black marks on her face. She was crying and was worrying about whether she was responsible for the damage.
“We got her some Rescue Remedy drops from the chemist.”
The woman, who is staying with friends, was later treated for smoke inhalation after an ambulance arrived.

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