Brunel students evacuated after fire breaks out on campus

Around 50 students were evacuated after a fire at Lancaster Complex at around 4pm today.

Ten fire engines and 70 firefighters were called to the Lancaster Complex in Kingston Lane at around 4:07pm. 50 students who were living at the halls within the Complex fled the Brunel University halls of residence before the brigade arrived, according to GetWestLondon. Fire crews from Hillingdon, Hayes, Southall, Northolt, Ruislip and other surrounding fire stations attended the scene.

Photo by George Phillpot

London Fire Brigade (LFB) fought the flames on the third floor and had it under control by 7:07pm – three hours later. Students told IKB Insider they saw lots of black smoke coming out of the building.

The LFB confirmed that an extraction system cupboard on the first, second, and third floors of the student residence was damaged by the fire.

Police were called by the LFB at 4:24pm, and they confirmed that the fire is not believed to be suspicious. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown and “is under investigation”, according to LFB.

Students tweeted about the incident; “one of the guys I know at Brunel had his kitchen set on fire” tweeted @TodorokiEra.

Boris Johnson, (Con) MP for Uxbridge & South Ruislip, tweeted at 7:54pm that he was “very pleased to hear no one hurt in fire @Bruneluni” and thanked LFB’s work and the University on their efficiency in dealing with the event.

There are no reports of any injuries as a result of the blaze.