Six crews tackle fire at city centre office building

An investigation was this afternoon underway after a blaze at a three-storey office building in Exeter's Southernhay.

The alarm was raised at 7.30am by a passers by who spotted smoke billowing from the property.

Initially two appliances from Danes Castle and Middlemoor together with an aerial platform were sent to tackle the incident.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus forced their way into the building which was well alight.

At 7.49am they requested a further two appliances, which came from Danes Castle and Topsham, together with support appliances from Exmouth.

However, 10 minutes later crews requested a further two appliances from Topsham and Credition. 

At its height six crews using an aerial platform, three hose reel jets, one main jet and four sets of breathing apparatus tackling the blaze.

The roads, which had been closed as a result of the incident, were re-opened early this afternoon.