Posted on 02/09/2008 3:42:07 PM PST by WmShirerAdmirer
Witnesses described dramatic scenes as flames ripped through the Camden Canal Market area.
Pubgoer "I was up in the bar on the lock and we heard this bang. The next thing we know the glass shattered in and that was it - people were running everywhere. People were running and screaming. We did not have a clue what had happened. I just wanted to get out of there. Everyone was panicking. People were just running everywhere. People were screaming and shouting. People did not know what was going on."
Sky reporter Sara Merchant "The flames are leaping above a three-storey building. Camden historically is always busy at the weekend - there are hundreds of people out here. This really is a spectacular sight."
Eyewitness "One eyewitness told me (Sky News reporter Sara Merchant) that he was drinking in a pub when he heard an explosion and all the windows in the bar smashed in. Everyone started screaming and running out. Everyone thought a bomb had gone off. He could feel the heat of the fire."
Doug Charles-Riddler, Landlord of the Hawley Arms "There are lots of questions which must be answered about how the fire has spread such a distance, up to 100 yards, in such a short time. I do not know the full extent of the damage as yet as I can't get anywhere near my pub. Obviously as I wait I am fearing the worst. I know we allowed fire-fighters in the pub before the blaze broke out. I'm assuming they wanted to view the fire and I'm also assuming that they left the pub before it caught on fire.
"It's devastating when you've worked so hard to build up a business to now be stuck here wondering if I have a business left at all."
Nick Comery, London Fire Brigade "We have a large fire in the vicinity of Chalk Farm Road. We have 20 fire engines and 100 firefighters tackling the blaze."
Ollie Skinner "We are in a flat about 50 metres away in Hawley Street and it seems the whole block is on fire. The whole of the Canal Market and several shops looks like it might catch."
Vincent Starr "We popped down about 30 minutes after it started and went down to the Hawley Arms before it was cordoned off. There were sparks and flames and we thought it just might jump to another building."
Jackie Churchill "I cannot explain what it is like. It's like a massive bonfire."
Castlehaven Road resident "The police will not let me return to my flat. They seem very worried about having anyone near the blaze."
Eyewitness "I was standing on the bridge as it happened and the heat on my face was so hot."
Eye witness: An explosion precipitated the fire.
Faux news just said witnesses report smelling gasoline.
The live reporter just started talking abut the windows blown out and people panicking. And the anchor cut her out and off air.
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