Fire on site of Sir Robert McAlpine's Kings Place development closes King's Cross station

King's Cross railway station was evacuated today over fears that a fire at a nearby construction site could spark an explosion.

About 20 firefighters and four fire engines attended the blaze at the Kings Place development in York Way, where Sir Robert McAlpine is working on the superstructure of the prestigious mixed-use building. The site is only 150m from the station.

According to the London Fire Brigade, fears of an acetylene cylinder exploding led to the evacuation of around 630 people from the station when the blaze broke out. A 200 metre exclusion zone has been set up around the site.

It is understood that the blaze, which started at around 8.30 am, engulfed half of the eighth floor of the building. The London Fire Brigade will begin investigating the causes of the fire once access to the site becomes possible.

Early reports suggested that one person had been taken to hospital suffering from burns. However, the building's developers Parabola Land, have issued a statement saying that no injuries have been sustained by anyone working on or living near the site.

When completed in 2008 Kings Place will feature offices, a concert hall, art galleries and restaurants. The building will become the new home of the Guardian Newspaper Group and The Observer newspaper.

Dixon Jones is the project's architect.