Koko Camden fire: Famous music venue engulfed in flames
About 60 firefighters tackle a blaze at the venue in Camden which is undergoing a refurbishment. …
Image copyright Oliver Cooper Fire crews have spent the night tackling a large blaze at one of London’s most famous music venues.
The London Fire Brigade says at one point a third of the roof of Koko in Camden, which is currently being refurbished, was alight.
Smoke and flames could be seen billowing from the scaffolding in the roof.
About 60 firefighters have been at the venue on Camden High Street after they were called just before 21:00 GMT.
The brigade said at one stage 30% of the roof was alight and it was “working hard” to save the rest of the building.
It also warned people to stay away from the area. No injuries have been reported.
Oliver Cooper, a Conservative councillor who witnessed the fire, said the blaze was “under control and now being pushed back”.
He added on Twitter: “Devastated by the potential loss of such a huge part of Camden’s culture.”
Koko was previously known as the Camden Palace and Camden Hippodrome, and has been one of the most iconic live music venues in London for decades.
It is currently closed and undergoing refurbishment, and was set to reopen in the spring.
Acts such as Madonna, The Rolling Stones, Ed Sheeran and Prince have performed at the venue, which is close to Mornington Crescent underground station.
Veteran DJ Tony Blackburn tweeted about the fire:
Leader of Camden Council Georgia Gould said: “Heartbreaking watching the Camden Palace / Koko up in flames this evening, a building that holds so many memories and means so much to us in Camden.”
MP for Holborn and St Pancras Sir Keir Starmer echoed Ms Gould’s statement on Twitter.
Sir Keir said: “Awful news in Camden tonight. Incredible response from our firefighters. As Georgina Gould says, we owe them so much.”
The venue was set to re-open after a “major state-of-the-art” refurbishment, after the purchase of two adjacent buildings.
About The Author
