While fire crews at the scene in Bromley are making “steady progress”, the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has warned that it is “going to be a protracted incident”. Emergency services were alerted to the fire shortly before midday, with the brigade’s 999 control center receiving 88 calls about the fire. Half of a five-room flat on the 15th floor of the St. Mark’s Square block was gutted and part of the roof was also on fire. No injuries have been reported and evacuated residents have been taken to nearby St Mark’s Church pending further news, while Bromley Council is said to be providing support. Station Commander Colin Digby, who is at the scene, said: “Crews are making steady progress. This will be a protracted incident and we expect our crews to be on scene for several hours.” The Premier Inn hotel next to the tower has also been evacuated and guests have been told they may have to wait several hours to get back inside. Jerome Smith, 22, who lives there, said: “I went to sleep, woke up, went outside, my friend texted me saying there was a fire and they evacuated everyone. “My car is parked in the car park so we’re just waiting to get in. They say it’s going to be a three hour wait.” Smoke vapors can be seen from the roof of the building (PA) Footage posted on social media showed flames and black smoke coming from part of a sloping roof of the block of flats. Further footage showed firefighters on the roof with the flames apparently out. A large cordon remains in place around the scene, with residents being diverted onto longer routes to get home. Josh Gill, 29, Co-op team leader from Bromley, said: “I literally live on the doorstep. “I was in my apartment and my mother-in-law came to pick up my wife’s niece who stayed last night, and as she came she said about the fire and saw all the fire departments turn up and [I] went to have a look. 80 firefighters were called to the fire on the 15th floor of the apartment building (PA) “Some people were upset and crying, while others were shocked and confused about what was happening. The fire department is still here and you can see people living in the apartments evacuating to the church.” “It’s scary to see this right on the doorstep as I have a family.” Rowland Leslie, 63, who lives nearby, said: “Where the building leans, there are balconies and the flames were burning fiercely at first. “I’ve been in Bromley for over an hour and where I was it looked like the fire had gone out, but in the last 20 minutes it looks like it must have re-ignited.” Raquell Viamonte, 22, who works at a restaurant in St Mark’s Square, said it was “terrifying” when the fire broke out. “It was quite stressful,” he said. “I had to deal with many customers, kick them out and refund their orders. The fire alarm started going off and by the time I got outside there were firefighters running everywhere. It was scary.” Fire crews from Bromley, Beckenham, Addington, Woodside, Lewisham, Forest Hill, Sidcup and Croydon and surrounding fire stations are working to bring the blaze under control. At 4 p.m., evacuees were invited inside St. Mark’s Church for an announcement, but the press were not allowed inside. Shortly afterwards, a Bromley Council spokesman who was helping those evacuated from the scene said: “We have no information. At this time the fire service is still working and the next update will be at 5.30. The council provides support.” The cause of the fire is not known.