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Fire breaks out near Southmead Hospital
Firefighters are working to contain a fire in a building near Southmead Hospital.
Eyewitnesses noticed smoke coming out of what they thought was the hospital’s blood donor centre at around 1pm on Thursday.
However, officials later clarified that the fire was not in the hospital.
In a statement to Bristol24/7, a spokesperson for Avon Fire & Rescue Service said: “Crews from Southmead, Patchway, Kingswood, Hicks Gate, Yate, Temple, Bedminster and Avonmouth Fire Stations, are currently on the scene of a fire at a property on Southmead Way in Southmead.
“Firefighters are currently tackling the fire externally using water jets.”
While the extent of damage is currently unknown, Edie Earle, who was in the area when the fire started, said it looked “pretty worrying”.
She added: “There was so much smoke and it seemed so close to the hospital. Buildings were evacuated and I saw loads of staff outside.”
Bristol24/7 was also told that there were more than half a dozen firefighters on site working alongside some police officers to evacuate nearby buildings.
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Photo and videos: Edie Earle
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