Dorchester hotel fire believed to have started in extraction system

London Fire Brigade investigators have said they believe a fire that broke out at the Dorchester hotel in London's Mayfair yesterday started due to hot particles from a circular saw entering the extraction system, which ignited debris in the ducting.

Four fire engines and around 25 firefighters were called to a fire at the five-red-AA-star, 250-bedroom hotel yesterday at 3.14pm and the fire was under control by just after 5pm.

The hotel was fully evacuated at the time and all guests and employees have since returned to the hotel and the property resumed normal operations.

Part of a room on the lower-ground floor of a staffing block adjoining the eight-storey building and part of the extraction system were damaged. There were no reports of any injuries.

Fire crews from Chelsea, Soho and Paddington fire stations were at the scene.