A detatched thatched property in Slough Lane, Kingsbury, caught fire this morning close to two primary schools.
At its height, the blaze required 40 firefighters in eight engines - including the hydraulic platform and fire and rescue units from Wembley.
Mums and dads dropping off children at St Robert Southwell Catholic Primary School in Slough Lane, and Kingsbury Green Primary School in Old Kenton Lane, would have seen the the roof ignite at around at 8.30am and the immediate aftermath.
An office worker at one of the schools said: "We can hardly miss it. It's very close but the only thing we have got is the smell and the smoke and the traffic jams."
Crews from Harrow, Stanmore and Wembley are current at the scene and there are no reported casualties.
