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Fire at Chester Zoo leads to evacuation of visitors Fire at Chester Zoo leads to evacuation of visitors
(about 1 hour later)
Visitors were evacuated from Chester Zoo when a large fire broke out in one of its attractions.Visitors were evacuated from Chester Zoo when a large fire broke out in one of its attractions.
The zoo tweeted the blaze was in its Monsoon Forest habitat.The zoo tweeted the blaze was in its Monsoon Forest habitat.
One person was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation, but there were no reports of further injuries. Fifteen fire crews were involved. One person was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation but there were no other reports of injuries. Fifteen fire crews have been tackling the blaze.
Teams worked to move animals away from the fire, said the zoo. Cheshire Fire later tweeted that "all animals are accounted for". In a statement, the zoo said: "Sumatran orangutans and other mammals are all accounted for. We are working hard to account for all other species."
North West Ambulance Service was called to the scene as a precaution at about 11:40 GMT. Police said the fire was reported just before 11:30 GMT.
Two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance were sent. Some zoo visitors tweeted images from the scene including Sophie Flynn, who said staff were "working hard to deal" with the fire, which "happened very quickly".
Some zoo visitors 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."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.He added: "It was spreading across the roof in strong winds for a while.
"Lots of fire engines arrived quickly." "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.""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 to say 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."
At the scene: Gerry Jackson, BBC News
Flames were fanned by today's very strong winds and raced across the roof of the Monsoon Forest enclosure.
As hundreds of visitors were being evacuated from the wider premises, zoo staff were leading threatened animals to safety.
The zoo has closed and we have no indication of when it will reopen.
Of course an investigation has begun into the cause of the fire.
Even though visitor numbers would have been much lower on a day of bad weather like today, this is obviously a very dramatic event for one of northern England's premier attractions.
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 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.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 officially opened in 1931 and is the UK's most visited zoo, 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.The venue says it plays a significant part in wildlife conservation, helping to save endangered species.