South Kensington fire: Man charged with arson

A man has been charged with arson after a fire tore through a five-storey building in South Kensington in the early hours of Friday (March 1).

The blaze broke out in flats in a converted terraced house in Emperor's Gate in South Kensington, near Gloucester Road station and the Natural History Museum.

Police Officers worked alongside colleagues from London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service as all the emergency services responded rapidly to the incident.

The fire is being treated as suspicious and on Sunday March 3, Wesley Guilherme Farias, 25, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

He was later charged and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday March 4. Seven police officers and six residents suffered smoke inhalation during the incident. All were taken to hospital and all have been discharged. 

Video footage released by the Met Police shows how officers kicked down the front door to enter the burning building. They then gained access to six flats to rescue those inside.

Superintendent Jill Horsfall, one of the senior officers responsible for policing Kensington & Chelsea, said: “The bravery and professionalism of the Met officers who responded so rapidly to this terrifying fire shows the very best of policing. They acted without hesitation to rapidly enter a burning building full of smoke and to save lives.

“Our subsequent investigation will be equally tenacious and we now have a man in custody.

“Working with our partners and communities to keep Londoners safe is exactly why police officers come to work every day. We are recruiting people who share our determination to do just this. Please search ‘Met Careers’ if you’re interested in a career with the Met.”

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call 101, ref 107/01Mar. To remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers.