Four individuals were rescued and three dozen others evacuated after a fire broke out at a hotel in London's King's Cross district in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Emergency Response and Rescues
Firefighters were called to a hotel on Mabledon Place just before 2am on 27 December 2025. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) confirmed that upon arrival, crews discovered a fire in the basement, which sustained damage. Remarkably, thirty-six people had already managed to leave the building before the emergency services arrived at the scene around 2am.
Rescue operations were swiftly launched. Fire crews used specialist fire escape hoods to bring two people to safety from the fourth floor via an internal staircase. A further two individuals were rescued from the building using a turntable ladder. All four were assessed at the scene by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.
Containing the Blaze
The Brigade's control officers received the first of three emergency calls at 1.59am. Crews from Soho, Islington, Kentish Town, and surrounding fire stations were immediately dispatched. Through their efforts, the fire was brought under control by 3.10am, preventing more extensive damage.
The LFB highlighted the crucial role played by fire escape hoods in the operation. These devices provide members of the public with up to 15 minutes of protection from four key toxic fire gases: carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, and acrolein. They can be worn by both conscious and unconscious persons and are designed to filter toxic smoke to aid breathing, though they do not supply oxygen.
Cause and Safety Warning
The fire has been treated as accidental. Investigators believe it was caused by the unsafe disposal of smoking materials.
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson issued a stark reminder following the incident: "If you're a smoker, it’s absolutely vital you ensure your cigarette is completely out when you’ve finished smoking it. If you don’t, you risk causing a fire which could not only destroy your home but also cost you your life."
