Dramatic fire at a building site in central London eventually brought under control

The West End of London endured a huge blaze at a building site on the 17th February, which subsequently prompted fears of an explosion, until it was eventually brought under control.
72 firefighters and officers were deployed by the London Fire Brigade (LFB) to head to the scene at Great Portland Street, after reports of a fire emerged at 12:45. The road in question is very close to Oxford Street, which is London’s busiest shopping street.
From miles away, a column of black smoke was visible and could be seen rising from the flames in pictures that were subsequently posted on social media.
After learning that gas cylinders were involved in the blaze, firefighters became concerned that an explosion was very much a possibility, so set up an emergency exclusion zone.
The building itself was under refurbishment, according to the LFB, with it being reported by neighbours that developers were planning on converting it into flats.
Scotland Yard confirmed that no-one was injured as a result of the blaze, while a spokesman for LFB stated that at 13:45, the fire was officially declared as under control
LFB also stated that over 40 calls were made to 999, while Twitter users posted pictures of the smoke that was visible from as far as Peckham, some five miles away from Great Portland Street, over in south-east London.