Google’s UK office caught fire around 13.53 UK time. The fire broke out after a barbecue that was held on the roof of Google’s British headquarters in Victoria,South west London. Around 5,000 Google staff and employees of other firms based in the six-floor building were evacuated, as four fire engines and 20 firefighters fought to extinguish the flames.

A Google spokeswoman, speaking on her mobile from outside the building, said that no one had been hurt and all workers had been accounted for.

“All I know is that there was a barbecue on a roof terrace on one of the Google floors,” she said.

“We have all been moved away from the building and we are waiting for the fire brigade to tell us when we can go back in.”

A spokesman for London Fire Brigade said that a part of the timber decked patio area on the fifth floor terrace was damaged by the blaze.

“The Brigade was called at 13.53 and the fire was under control by 15.13,” he said. [via]