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A major fire that can be seen across Bristol has broken out at a University of Bristol building near Park Street.
The blaze was first seen at around 5.20pm with smoke and flames seen pouring from a building near Clifton Triangle.
Initial reports suggested the Wills Memorial Building was on fire but the university later clarified that the blaze was in the Grade II listed Fry Building which sits just north of the Wills Building.
(Image: Robert Spry)
Queen’s Road at the top of Park Street is closed eastbound due to the major fire.
The building on fire is covered in scaffolding which is adding to the difficulty in fighting the blaze, according to a firefighter at the scene.
Will Marsh, head of media at the University, said: “The fire is in the Fry Building, our maths building which was undergoing a refurbishment and was due to open later this year, in spring time.
“We believe no-one was inside at the time, but it is still very sad news.”
Bristol University has since tweeted: "We’re aware of an ongoing fire in our Fry Building, which is currently being refurbished. Everyone’s accounted for. More updates when we have them."
They also revealed that the Wills Memorial Library would remain closed:
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Firefighters are on the scene and at least nine fire engines are involved in tackling the blaze.
The Fry Building was undergoing a £33million refurbishment and was due to reopen in Spring 2018.
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Steve Quinton, group manager for Avon Fire and Rescue, said at 6.38pm: “We are dealing with an ongoing incident at the University of Bristol Fry Building, in Woodland Road, Cotham.
“We are dealing with a fire in the top floor of a five storey building.
“There are no reports of any injuries at this stage.
“Crews are on scene with two turntable ladders, attempting to extinguish the fire. We also have six pumping appliances to assist in control of the fire.
“There were no hazardous materials involved.
“The building was under refurbishment but no person was inside at the time. Crews continuing to extinguish fire.
“The cause is unknown at this stage. We will be investigating.
“The fire appears to be under control. The incident appears to be going well.”
Another update will be given in the next hour and a half.
Students were evacuated from the library:
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The Grade II listed Bristol University building involved in a major fire was undergoing a £33million refurbishment when the blaze broke out.
Flames were first seen pouring from a building near Park Street at around 5.20pm on Saturday (January 6) and it later emerged that the Fry Building, just behind the Wills Memorial Building, had caught fire.
Nearby Queen’s Road was closed in the eastbound direction while Avon Fire and Rescue Service tackled the fire.
The University of Bristol had invested £33m in transforming the Grade II listed Fry building, which was due to become the home of the university’s Fry Building.
(Image: University of Bristol)
After the redevelopment the building was due to house 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.
The building was due to be completed an open in Spring 2018.
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Work on the refurbishment started in March 2016 and was initially due to be completed by October 2017.
The building is named after the chocolate-making Fry family whose donations to Bristol University helped it open in 1909.
(Image: Robert Spry)
Speaking in March 2016, Professor Noah Linden, Head of the School of Mathematics, said: "The Fry Building will provide an outstanding home for mathematics in the heart of the University's precinct, and we are very excited about moving into it.
"We will have facilities for research and teaching befitting a world-leading mathematics department, in a unique Grade II listed building, remodelled and refurbished to retain its historic character."
The contractor carrying out the work was Balfour Beatty.
Follow LIVE updates on the ongoing incident here:
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Before the development, the Fry Building used to house the University’s School of Biological Sciences which in July 2014, relocated to the new Life Sciences Building on St Michael’s Hill.
The Fry Building is located on a triangular site between Woodland Road and University Road with the Wills Memorial Tower to the south.
Parts of the building date from 1880 and its exterior has been described as “architecturally ornate” with much of the original design remaining in good order.
Will Marsh, head of media at the University, said: “The fire is in the Fry Building, our maths building which was undergoing a refurbishment and was due to open later this year, in spring time.
“We believe no-one was inside at the time, but it is still very sad news.”
Bristol University has since tweeted: "We’re aware of an ongoing fire in our Fry Building, which is currently being refurbished. Everyone’s accounted for. More updates when we have them."
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The fire broke out at the Fry Building of Bristol University
Fire crews are investigating the cause of a large blaze at the University of Bristol.
The university said everyone was accounted for after the fire in the Fry Building, which was being refurbished.
A number of study areas were evacuated, including the Wills Memorial library, and will remain closed on Sunday.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service said the fire was extinguished at about 20:30 GMT and crews remain at the scene damping down.
Several roads around the campus were closed, including Park Row and Woodland Road.
Skip Twitter post by @AvonFireRescue Firefighters have extinguished the fire @BristolUni building on Woodland Road. Crews remain on scene damping down. The cause of fire is unknown but will be investigated.
Huge thanks to blue light services & other agencies assisting with incident and for all messages of support. pic.twitter.com/vDEswtT2ct — Avon Fire & Rescue (@AvonFireRescue) January 6, 2018 Report
Image copyright Matthew Price
Sacha Dhabalia was in the university's library - near the affected building - when the fire alarms went off.
The second year sociology student said the building was packed with people revising for exams that begin on Monday.
"Trying to get out quickly was pretty difficult considering there must have been hundreds of students all heading in the same direction towards the exit.
"I could smell smoke and hear the fire brigade sirens but had no idea where the fire was, which was pretty terrifying.
"When I got out everyone was coughing because the smoke was so thick. "
Ms Dhabalia added: "As I started walking home - without my notes for the exam on Tuesday - I saw where the fire was coming from.
"Many students are left without their work at a stressful period.
"Hopefully the library will be open tomorrow and we'll be able to get our notes and books back."
A HUGE fire erupted at the University of Bristol's Grade II listed building this evening, which was undergoing a £33million refurbishment.
Smoke was seen billowing across the city as flames roared from behind the iconic Wills Memorial Building.
Twitter Stunned onlookers watched blaze erupted close to the university of Bristol
The fire took hold of the Fry Building, which was set to become the new home for the university's School of Mathematics and included lecture theatres, teaching rooms, quiet study areas and social spaces.
It was planned to open in spring in the old part of the University, on Park Street in the city centre.
The building is understood to have been empty when it set alight. No injuries have so far been reported.
A spokesman from the University library posted on twitter: "Due to a fire in the Fry Building, security are evacuating a number of study areas in and around the Wills area; fortunately nobody seems to have been hurt."
SWNS:South West News Service Firefighters battled the blaze at the Fry Building in Bristol this evening
@wills_memorial Dramatic images captured tonight's raging fire
SWNS:South West News Service The billowing smoke swept across the city this evening
SWNS:South West News Service The building had been under refurbishment
The blaze was first reported just after 5pm, and up to 40 fire fighters were called to the scene from the Bristol and Bath areas.
The upper floors of the Fry Building, a five-storey structure on Woodland Road, Cotham, were ablaze and seven fire engines as well as support vehicles were called out.
As of 7pm, fire crews deemed the blaze under control.
A spokesman from Avon Fire and Rescue said: "Investigators at the scene will now work closely with the university to establish how the fire started.
"The five-storey building was under refurbishment so no one was inside.
"Nearby areas were evacuated as a precaution."
Worried passerbys had earlier shared photos on social media of the flames.
Tim Collins tweeted: "Bristol Uni fire looks pretty insane at the moment. I really do hope everyone is okay up there."
Bobby Mason added: "Looks like a big fire in Bristol somewhere near Park Street. Hope everyone is OK #BristolFire".
Awful fire in Fry building behind Wills on Bristol Uni campus. Shocking to see and smell. Really sad. Traffic bad and copters in sky #bristol pic.twitter.com/cSr12s8AvB — Bristol Estate Agent (@CJHoleClifton) January 6, 2018
Patchy news at the moment but looks like massive fire in our old building, the Fry building, at Bristol Uni. Building being totally refurbished for Maths. Devastating. — GaryFoster (@Prof_GD_Foster) January 6, 2018
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Professor Gary Foster said: "Patchy news at the moment but looks like massive fire in our old building, the Fry building, at Bristol Uni. Building being totally refurbished for Maths. Devastating."
Park Row and Woodland Road have been shut off while emergency services are at the scene.
Avon Fire Brigades Union Members tweeted: “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.”
A huge fire rages in bristol causing university students to be evacuated as emergency services tackle the blaze
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