London Evening Standard October 4 2012
It's a question often asked in celebrity interviews — if fire was engulfing your home, what would you rescue first?
Duffy can now answer from experience: her pets.
She was forced to flee her £12 million home in Kensington last night after a blaze broke out in the loft-style apartment.
Ignoring possessions — it’s not known whether her Grammy award and three Brits were stored there — jewellery and clothes, her only thought was for her two cats and a dog.
Neighbours said the Smoke Without Fire singer appeared dazed as she was led from the penthouse, which is on the ninth and 10th floors.
While she managed to rescue the dog and one cat, another called Felix disappeared in the chaos and Duffy was seen calling out: “Where’s my cat? Come on, come here.”
Neighbour Maria McLeod. 47, gave the singer coffee after she fled the blaze but didn’t realise who she was at the time. She said: “I gave her a cup of coffee and she said her cleaner was there and needed some too. She was lovely, just in shock.
“I asked her what had happened. She said ‘that’s my flat!’ kind of half-laughing in shock.
“She said that when she left the flat she had to shout ‘Felix this is your last chance!’ She thought they would have to leave him there.
“I just felt sorry for her.”
A friend eventually found the cat hiding under a white van and after being reunited with her owner, the two were driven away in a black Mercedes just before 10pm.
More than 20 other residents in the block weren’t so lucky — they had to spend the night in a nearby rescue centre after being told to evacuate their flats.
While Duffy’s cats escaped without injury, neighbours say she also had pet goldfish. Their fate is unknown.
More than 60 firefighters battled for six hours to put out the fire, which started just before 7pm, and crews were continuing to dampen down the building this morning. An investigation has been launched.
The rented apartment has its own swimming pool, cinema and two outdoor terraces. Duffy was due to leave the property in the next few days.
It is thought she had recently returned to the recording studio and was due to perform in the United Arab Emirates this month.
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