London boat fire

A NARROWBOAT was burnt out on the Paddington Arm yesterday, with 35 firefighters and a fire boat attending the blaze.

It was moored under the  Harrow Road flyover in Paddington that made it very awkward for the firefighters, Richard Hall tells us.

Traffic diverted

Half of the boat was alight when firefighters arrived shortly after noon, with it sending up flames and smoke on to Westway and Harrow Road, with traffic having to be diverted.

Altogether there were three fire engines, two rescue units and a fire boat on the scene, with it taking over half an hour to get the blaze under control.  Though it was burnt out, it was prevented from sinking.

Boat owners nearby hastily removed their narrowboats away from the blaze, though a couple suffered paint damage.

The cause of the fire, that was opposite the Sheldon Square office development, is not yet known.