Major fire at Riverside Leisure Centre
Ten pumping appliances are attending a fire at the Riverside Leisure Centre, Cowick Street, Exeter.
The fire was reported in the first floor sauna, and the health suite was confirmed as well alight.
Appliances are attending from Danes Castle, Middlemoor, Topsham, Exmouth, Crediton, Ottery St Mary, Cullompton, Teignmouth, Bovey Tracey and the aerial appliances from Torquay and Exeter.
There is a lot of smoke from the building. Twenty people were removed from the swimming pool and the leisure centre has been evacuated.
Six breathing apparatus, two main jets and a hose reel jet in use.
17:28
Fire located in the health suite of the fitness centre, efforts being made to bring the fire under control and stop any further spread. 6 BA in use, one person suffering from smoke inhalation treated on scene.
Other emergency services are on the scene and traffic is likely to be affected in the area.
17:56
Five additional appliances in attendance from Newton Abbot (two), Chard, Honiton, and a second appliance from Teignmouth, making a total of 15 pumping appliances.
18:32
Fire in sauna spread to roof. One person suffering from smoke inhalation and one person suffered burns but had left scene.
6BA, 2 ALPs, 3 jets and 2 hose reels in use.
18:58
Roads in the immediate vicinity – Exe Bridges and Alphington Road were closed to allow emergency vehicle access and to carry out their work.
It is understood around 20 people were evacuated from the swimming pool, which became engulfed in smoke. Residents of a neighbouring property, as a precautionary measure, were asked to leave. In total around 40 to 50 people have been evacuated. All people within the leisure centre have now been accounted for.
Marks and Spencers is acting as a reception centre. Some neighbourhood police officers have taken people home and a few others were at Marks and Spencers being looked after. The South West Ambulance HART team (Hazardous Area Response Team), are providing assistance at the reception centre.
There are two reported injuries – one with minor smoke inhalation and one with a minor burn. Both casualties were treated at the scene.
The public are asked to please avoid the Alphington Road and Exe Bridges area, as this is adding to the congestion.
