One confirmed dead in fire at London block of flats

A fire in a block of flats in London has claimed the life of one woman this morning.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of the morning at a four-storey building in Daleham Gardens, Hampstead to the north west of the city.

I heard Kentish Town Fire brigade racing up Highgate Road to the Hampstead fire last night https://t.co/kAvk6Sg3fU pic.twitter.com/X88GgEPppx

— Zora Suleman (@ZoraSuleman) November 21, 2017

The alarm was raised at 1.52am and crews from at least five local stations responded. Around sixty firefighters in eight fire engines as well as an aerial appliance worked until around 5am to bring the situation under control. Twenty people had left the building before help arrived.

Motorists advised to avoid Daleham Gardens area of #Hampstead while crews continue to deal with a flat fire. Latest: https://t.co/r217hpWYQ8 pic.twitter.com/u30O7jzOtz

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) November 21, 2017

A woman was rescued but was later pronounced dead at the scene, the London Fire Brigade has said. There are no further details about the woman, though reports on social media suggest that she was elderly.

The @LondonFire are dealing with a fire in Hampstead thank you for all your doing and prayers for all the families affected pic.twitter.com/iDWJArH9xB

— Emmanuel Pictures (@emmanuelpicture) November 21, 2017

Images shared on social media show flames leaping from the roof of the building. Parts of the second, third and fourth floors as well as the entire roof were damaged in the blaze, the London Fire Brigade confirmed. The cause of the fire is not yet know and authorities are now investigating.