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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, leading to visitors being evacuated. | |
The zoo tweeted the blaze had broken out in its Monsoon Forest habitat. | |
Teams were working to bring it under control and move all animals away from the fire. | |
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 Sophie Flynn, who 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 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. | |
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 venue says it plays a significant part in wildlife conservation, helping to save endangered species. |