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| Fire forces hospital's evacuation | Fire forces hospital's evacuation |
| (40 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. | 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 fire, which started at 1320 GMT and sent smoke billowing into the air. | Much of the roof has been destroyed by the fire, which started at 1320 GMT and sent smoke billowing into the air. |
| Three casualties were reported - one patient and two firefighters who suffered smoke inhalation. The burning building has now been fully evacuated. | Three casualties were reported - one patient and two firefighters who suffered smoke inhalation. The burning building has now been fully evacuated. |
| Several patients were laid on mattresses in a nearby street and others were led away wrapped in blankets. | |
| Aerial view of hospital location | Aerial view of hospital location |
| The Royal Marsden Hospital is a world-class specialist cancer hospital. | The Royal Marsden Hospital is a world-class specialist cancer hospital. |
| Staff estimated that there were between 80 and 90 patients at the hospital when the fire broke out. | Staff estimated that there were between 80 and 90 patients at the hospital when the fire broke out. |
| Many patients were taken to St Paul's Church in Onslow Square while others were transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is treating the three casualties. | Many patients were taken to St Paul's Church in Onslow Square while others were transferred to the Royal Brompton Hospital. Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is treating the three casualties. |
| It's unbelievable what would happen if it burned down Professor Ray Powles Hospital is a world leaderIn pictures: hospital fire | It's unbelievable what would happen if it burned down Professor Ray Powles Hospital is a world leaderIn pictures: hospital fire |
| The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was treating the fire as "very serious". | The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said it was treating the fire as "very serious". |
| 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." | 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." |
| The LFB said there were no patients in the area where the fire started but it had spread and forced the evacuation. | 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. |
| Dr Aled Jones, a surgical doctor, was evacuated from the hospital during a break between operations. | |
| "We did think it could have been a false alarm, but the message spread quickly around the hospital and we could smell the smoke," he said. | |
| The staff were quite fantastic, and there was no fear whatsoever Patient Jason Boas | |
| Dr Jones added: "It was surreal. It didn't feel like it was really happening." | |
| He said emergency procedures would go ahead under the hospital's contingency plans. | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Patients in pub | |
| Patient Jason Boas was awaiting treatment at the hospital when the fire broke out. | |
| He told the BBC News website: "All the patients and staff did not panic, and left in an orderly fashion. The staff were quite fantastic, and there was no fear whatsoever. | |
| "We were evacuated and I had my canular taken out in a local pub by one of the wonderful nurses. We were then sent home, and hopefully tomorrow I will go back to the hospital for treatment." | |
| Iain Heggie, owner of the Crown pub which is next to the hospital, said dozens of patients were evacuated by emergency services. | 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. | 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." | "They were covered by blankets and others were walking, I saw a lot going by." |
| 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. |
| Return to story | Return to story |
| Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? | Have you been caught up in events? Are you in the area? |
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| 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 |