Pregnant women had to be evacuated from a maternity hospital this evening after a huge fire broke out – forcing staff to relocate babies to the local university’s library.
Footage posted on social media showed giant flames licking the roof of St Michael’s Hospital on Southwell Street in Bristol on Thursday eve.
Large plumes of black smoke billowed into the sky as firefighters fought to extinguish the blaze, which reportedly destroyed a number of solar panels situated on the roof.
Expectant mothers were moved out of the building for their own safety, assisted by the hospital’s midwives who provided them with milk and fruit.
Jess Hutchinson, 22, whose waters have broken, told the BBC that it was ‘scary’ listening to the fire break out.
Matthew Burden, from Weston-super-Mare, told the BBC that he was was inside the hospital’s maternity unit with his pregnant wife, who was in labour with their third child, when the fire began.
‘I went out to get some food, came back and obviously the alarm went off,’ he said.
‘They said all partners had to leave. Everyone was going down the fire exit quite fast. When we came out I saw black smoke, all up in flames.’
Flames could been seen billowing from the roof of St Michael’s Hospital on Southwell Street in Bristol
A pregnant woman is given a blanket to keep warm as she is attended to by ambulance staff outside the hospital
There is currently no report of casualties and Avon Fire & Rescue Service confirmed that the fire is now out
Mr Burden said he had managed to call his partner and she had confirmed she wa safe inside.
Georgina Hackett, 22, a physiologist at the children’s hospital said: ‘I left work at 4:30pm and went to the outside of the heart institute and saw a big cloud of smoke looking up.
‘I spoke to people outside and they said that St Michael’s was on fire. The police said they needed some blankets for the babies.
‘I grabbed some blankets and took them up the hill and have given them to the babies. The babies were evacuated from the maternity to University of Bristol library.
‘It’s scary seeing that. Your natural instinct for what can I do to help comes in immediately.’
One doctor who works with the babies said: ‘We had to move them. Fire was on the roof. We had to move the babies and mums downstairs. Babies were fine.’
One passerby said that he was told the fire was caused by a solar panel, although this has not been confirmed.
The fire is believed to have broken out shortly after 4.30pm
However the police and fire service have told the public to avoid the area
Vast plumes of smoke emerged from the roof of the hospital as firefighters (seen bottom left) attempted to put out the blaze
An alternative view shows the extent of the fire, with dark black smoke spiraling high into the evening air
Smoke rises from the roof of St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol
Fire engined blocked the road into the hospital as police warned members of the public to stay away from the scene
The fire is reported to have broken out at approximately 4.30pm on Thursday evening
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire – although the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be determined
St Michael’s Hospital (pictured) is a teaching hospital and the area’s main maternity hospital
A shot of the reception area inside the St Michael’s Hospital’s Midwife Led Birthing Unit
The Midwife Led Birthing Unit (pictured) is the main maternity hospital in that area of Bristol
There is currently no report of casualties and Avon Fire & Rescue Service confirmed that the fire is now out, but the public are being told to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: ‘Crews from Temple, Yate, Southmead, Bedminster, Hicks Gate, Patchway, Kingswood, Nailsea, Avonmouth, Weston-Super-Mare were called at 4:23pm to reports of a fire on the roof of a hospital involving solar panels on Southwell Street, Bristol.
‘Upon arrival, crews located a fire on the roof of the building and began firefighting efforts.
‘The hospital was partially evacuated at the time of the incident. We can confirm that the fire has now been extinguished, and we currently have five fire engines on scene including one turntable ladder for monitoring purposes.
‘Police crews remain on scene to assist with traffic and cordon management. Some cordons are expected to be lifted.
‘No injuries or casualties have been reported.
‘The cause of the fire is unknown. A full investigation will take place following the incident.‘
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: ‘Police are supporting Avon Fire & Rescue colleagues at the scene of a fire at St Michael’s Hospital in Bristol which was reported at about 4.30pm on Thursday 22 May.
‘St Michael’s Hill is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and people are urged to avoid the area if at all possible.’
St Michael’s Hospital is a teaching hospital and the area’s main maternity hospital, and also includes a child’s audiology unit.
