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Fire at Chester Zoo leads to evacuation of visitors Fire at Chester Zoo leads to evacuation of visitors
(35 minutes later)
A large fire has broken out at Chester Zoo, prompting an evacuation of visitors. A large fire has broken out at Chester Zoo, leading to visitors being evacuated.
The zoo tweeted the blaze had broken out in its Monsoon Forest habitat. It said teams were working to bring the blaze under control and to move all animals away from the fire. The zoo tweeted the blaze had broken out in its Monsoon Forest habitat.
North West Ambulance said it was rung after 11:40 GMT as a precaution, but there were no patients needing help. Teams were working to bring it under control and move all animals away from the fire.
The site is one of the most popular tourism venues in the UK. Paramedics were called as a precaution at about 11:40 GMT, and one person was treated for smoke inhalation. The zoo is one of the most popular tourism venues in the UK.
Some visitors at the zoo tweeted images from the scene including David Wearing, who said: "Hope humans and animals evacuated safely - fire crews arriving on their scene." Some visitors at the zoo tweeted images from the scene including Sophie Flynn, who said zoo staff were "working hard to deal" with the fire, which "happened very quickly".
Sophie Flynn said zoo staff were "working hard to deal" with the fire, which "happened very quickly".
"It started as a little fire [...] which we saw but it's obviously much worse now!""It started as a little fire [...] which we saw but it's obviously much worse now!"
David Clough, who lives across the road from the zoo, said: "We first saw signs of the fire shortly after 11.30 GMT."
He added: "It was spreading across the roof in strong winds for a while.
"Lots of fire engines arrived quickly."
He said "the main flames had gone, but there's a smaller fire still burning at the southern end of the roof".
"We were very worried for the people and animals that would have been in the building."
The zoo tweeted it had closed the whole site, adding: "Visitors have been evacuated and our response team is working alongside emergency services to bring the situation under control."The zoo tweeted it had closed the whole site, adding: "Visitors have been evacuated and our response team is working alongside emergency services to bring the situation under control."
The Monsoon Forest building is the UK's largest indoor zoo exhibit, according to the attraction, and opened in August 2015. The Monsoon Forest habitat is the UK's largest zoological building, according to the attraction, and opened as part of the zoo's islands section in August 2015.
It is part of the zoo's islands section. The 14-acre section houses Sunda gharial crocodiles, Sulawesi crested macaques, rhinoceros hornbills and a variety of plant species. The 14-acre section houses Sumatran orangutans, rhinoceros hornbills, crocodiles and a variety of plant species.
It has its own tropical weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 26.6C to replicate conditions in South East Asia.It has its own tropical weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 26.6C to replicate conditions in South East Asia.
Chester Zoo is said to be the UK's most visited zoo outside London, drawing nearly two million visitors annually.Chester Zoo is said to be the UK's most visited zoo outside London, drawing nearly two million visitors annually.
It has more than 21,000 animals of 500 different species and has been the subject of many TV programmes including the BBC's Our Zoo drama in 2014.It has more than 21,000 animals of 500 different species and has been the subject of many TV programmes including the BBC's Our Zoo drama in 2014.
The zoo says it plays a significant part in wildlife conservation, helping to save endangered species. The venue says it plays a significant part in wildlife conservation, helping to save endangered species.