Ikonic Ski Shop Finches Destroyed by Fire

A family-run ski shop in London has been badly damaged after a fire broke out on Thursday.

100 firefighters were called to Forest Hill in south-east London where flames had spread from the workshop at the back of Finches Emporium to the shop floor and two flats which were part of the building.

Two people and a dog managed to escape the first-floor flat before firefighters arrived by climbing on to a flat roof and helped to the ground by members of the public.

One man was injured, but did not need hospital treatment.

Image c/o London Fire Brigade.

15 people were evacuated from nearby buildings.

The fire brigade spent five hours bringing the fire under control.

A storage area to the rear of the shop was also severely damaged by fire.

 “Firefighters were met with a fully-developed fire and they worked extremely hard for several hours to prevent the fire spreading to neighbouring properties,” said Deputy assistant commissioner, Jamie Jenkins .

“This was a protracted incident with crews working through the night to fully extinguish the fire.”

LFB used a 32-metre turntable ladder as water towers to help put out the fire from above, the brigade said.

The cause of the fire is being treated as accidental.

It is believed to have originated as a result of hot works taking place in the workshop at the back of the shop.

According to Finches Emporium’s website, the shop has been the “family’s pride and joy” since it first opened 1947.

“Since then we’ve proudly been serving the Forest Hill community and beyond, sharing our family’s passion for cycling, skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding and the great outdoors,” Finches said.

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