Three households have had to be placed in temporary accommodation following a serious fire in a North London block of flats.

Thick smoke and flames were seen billowing out of a flat on the 13th floor of a 15-storey block in Kilburn Square shortly before 7pm yesterday evening (Monday, September 18).

The building was safely evacuated before around 60 fire fighters tackled the blaze in Kilburn.

London Fire Brigade (LFB) had the situation under control by 8.10pm and no injuries were reported.

Brent Council set up a rest centre at the civic centre in Wembley and provided a taxi service for those unable to access their homes and in need of shelter. Residents on floors 1-12 were able to return to their property the same evening but some families and individuals were forced to make use of the council facilities.

Everyone has now been allowed to safely return home except for three households who the council has provided with temporary accommodation until they are able to go back. Work is currently underway to allow them to return as quickly as possible. 

Cabinet member for housing, homelessness and renters’ security, Cllr Promise Knight, said: “My sincere thanks goes to the London Fire Brigade and the Police for their quick response to the fire at Kilburn Square yesterday evening. I am also grateful to the council officers who delivered a fire safety briefing to some residents just last week, which undoubtedly helped ensure that no one was injured in this terrible incident.”

She added: “I would also like to thank the council officers who worked through the night to support tenants to get to and from the rest centre, and who helped the majority of tenants safely return to their homes. I know that this must have been a very difficult and stressful time for everyone involved.”