Bristol fire: crews tackle blaze near university's Wills Memorial Building

Fry Building fire in Bristol
The Fry Building is near the Wills Memorial Building  Credit: SWNS

A huge fire has broken out close to one of Bristol University's most well-known buildings.

Fire crews rushed to the blaze, near the Wills Memorial Building, designed by Sir George Oatley.

The fire is in the Fry Building, which has been under refurbishment, in the shadow of Wills Memorial Building. The building is understood to be empty.

It is in the old part of the University, on Park Street in the city centre. Flames could be seen across the city. 

Surrounding roads have been closed and nearby buildings are understood to have been evacuated.

The fire is in the Fry Building
The fire is in the Fry Building Credit: SWNS
Bristol fire
Credit: Twitter

Avon Fire and Rescue FBU wrote on Twitter: "Thoughts with crews dealing with incident in Bristol right now. Hopefully not as bad as it seems. Plz give crews room to work & be patient if delayed".

The Fry Building formerly housed the University's School of Biological Sciences until 2014 and is on a triangular site between Woodland Road and University Road with the Wills Memorial Tower to the south.

Bristol fire 
Credit: @alithesafari/Twitter

It was part of a £33million investment by The University of Bristol to transform the Grade II listed building, and was due to open this spring.

It is due to become the new home for the university's School of Mathematics and included lecture theatres, teaching rooms, quiet study areas and social spaces.

New additions to the historic building were to include an atrium linking to a new 140-seat lecture theatre with a roof garden above.

It is at the heart of the university campus. 

Helicopters were being used by emergency services to guide jets of water being shot at the inferno.

A spokesman for the University of Bristol confirmed the fire was in the Fry Building, which was due to open this summer.

She said: "Nobody was in there as far as we are aware."

The fire was extinguished around 8.30pm but damping down will continue throughout the night, along with investigations into the cause.

A fire service spokesman said: "The fire has been extinguished. Crews will remain on site damping down.

"The cause of the fire is still uknown and an investigation will be taking place throughout the night and tomorrow.

"No casualties were reported."

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