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| Fire forces hospital's evacuation | Fire forces hospital's evacuation |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A "very serious" fire has swept through a leading cancer hospital in London, forcing its evacuation. | A "very serious" fire has swept through a leading cancer hospital in London, forcing its evacuation. |
| Up to 125 firefighters are tackling the blaze at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Fulham Road, Chelsea, west London. | |
| Much of the roof has been destroyed by the blaze which started at 1320 GMT and sent smoke billowing into the air. | Much of the roof has been destroyed by the blaze which started at 1320 GMT and sent smoke billowing into the air. |
| The burning building has now been fully evacuated. Several patients were laid on mattresses in a street and others were led away wrapped in blankets. | The burning building has now been fully evacuated. Several patients were laid on mattresses in a street and others were led away wrapped in blankets. |
| The Royal Marsden Hospital is a world-class specialist cancer hospital. | The Royal Marsden Hospital is a world-class specialist cancer hospital. |
| 'Huge plume' | 'Huge plume' |
| About 100 patients were taken to St Paul's Church in Onslow Square where they were being cared for by nursing staff. | |
| Other patients have been transferred to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and the Royal Brompton Hospital. | |
| The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was treating the fire as "very serious" but so far there are no reported injuries. | |
| A LFB spokesman said: "The top floor and the roof is alight and it's still ongoing. We're doing our best to bring it under control." | |
| It's unbelievable what would happen if it burned down Professor Ray Powles Hospital is a world leaderIn pictures: hospital fire | |
| The LFB said there were no patients in the area where the fire started but it had spread and forced the evacuation. | |
| Ten ambulances, five officers, a hazardous area response team and a fast response car were sent to the scene by the London Ambulance Service. | Ten ambulances, five officers, a hazardous area response team and a fast response car were sent to the scene by the London Ambulance Service. |
| A spokesman said: "Our crews are currently remaining on standby but there are no reports of any casualties at this stage." | A spokesman said: "Our crews are currently remaining on standby but there are no reports of any casualties at this stage." |
| Roads closed | Roads closed |
| Professor Ray Powles, former head of haematooncology at the Royal Marsden, said the loss of the hospital would be a "huge step back" for cancer treatment. | Professor Ray Powles, former head of haematooncology at the Royal Marsden, said the loss of the hospital would be a "huge step back" for cancer treatment. |
| He said: "It's unbelievable what would happen if it burned down. It would be a huge, huge step back for all the patients being treated there, and a huge, huge step back for cancer." | He said: "It's unbelievable what would happen if it burned down. It would be a huge, huge step back for all the patients being treated there, and a huge, huge step back for cancer." |
| But he said valuable research material would not be lost as there was a second site in Sutton. | But he said valuable research material would not be lost as there was a second site in Sutton. |
| Several roads in the area have been closed | |
| Both Fulham Road and Sydney Street have been closed and crowds have gathered at the perimeter to watch the scene. | Both Fulham Road and Sydney Street have been closed and crowds have gathered at the perimeter to watch the scene. |
| Iain Heggie, owner of the Crown pub which is next to the hospital, said dozens of patients were evacuated by emergency services. | |
| He said: "Patients were carried on mattresses from the various hospital exits past my pub. | |
| "They were covered by blankets and others were walking, I saw a lot going by." | |
| Pablo Pico, who works at a nearby book shop, said: "There is a lot of smoke and we can see a lot of ashes flying over. | Pablo Pico, who works at a nearby book shop, said: "There is a lot of smoke and we can see a lot of ashes flying over. |
| The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research into the causes of the disease. | The Royal Marsden was the first hospital in the world dedicated to cancer treatment and research into the causes of the disease. |
| With its academic partner The Institute of Cancer Research, it forms the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, seeing more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad each year. | With its academic partner The Institute of Cancer Research, it forms the largest comprehensive cancer centre in Europe, seeing more than 40,000 patients from the UK and abroad each year. |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? |
| You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. | You can send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or to send via MMS please dial +44 (0)7725 100 100. |
| Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | Do not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video | Click here for terms and conditions on sending photos and video |