Fire Hits Foreign Office Near Thatcher’s Residence

LONDON —  A pre-dawn fire swept through the British Foreign Office today, heavily damaging the roof and two upper floors of the building across the street from Margaret Thatcher’s official residence.

No was hurt and the fire was brought under control within 45 minutes.

Deputy Fire Chief Gerald Clarkson said the cause of the blaze was unknown but that it was believed to have started accidentally in a section of the 109-year-old building that was being renovated.

Clarkson said there was never any danger of flames spreading to No. 10 Downing St., where the prime minister’s official residence is located, about 300 yards from the part of the Foreign Office where the fire occurred.

Thatcher and her husband, Denis, were asleep when the fire broke out and were probably unaware of it until later, said a spokesman at No. 10 Downing St.

A policeman on duty along Downing Street alerted the Fire Department after spotting smoke and an orange glow soon after the blaze started, at about 5:15 a.m.

More than 100 firemen and 12 fire engines raced to the scene.