Hampstead fire: one person dead in blaze at block of flats in north London

London Fire Brigade said the blaze had affected three floors and the roof of the four-storey building. Photograph: Playtime London/PA

One person has died in a fire at a block of flats in north London.

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said around 60 firefighters were brought in to tackle the blaze at a four-storey building in Daleham Gardens, Hampstead.

In a statement, the brigade said: “Crews rescued a woman from the building but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The block’s first, second and third floors had been affected by the blaze, as well as the whole of the roof, said the brigade, which sent eight fire engines and aerial support to the scene.

The alarm was raised at 1.52am on Tuesday and around 20 people had left the building before crews arrived, the LFB said. The fire was brought under control at 4.52am.

Crews tackling a fire on Daleham Gardens, Hampstead. Photograph: LFB/PA

Fire crews from West Hampstead, Kentish Town, Euston, Paddington and Holloway stations were at the scene. The brigade said firefighters would remain at the site damping down into Tuesday morning.

Pictures posted on social media showed flames leaping from the building’s roof, the whole of which was damaged.

Tulip Siddiq, the Labour MP for Hampstead and Kilburn, called the news “heartbreaking”, adding: “My thoughts are with the victim and the brave teams of firefighters who worked through the night.”

Motorists have been advised to avoid the area as crews deal with the aftermath of the fire, the cause of which is not known.

Press Association contributed to this report.