A residential building in Liverpool city centre was evacuated after a fire broke out in its roof space.
Firefighters were called out to Irwell Chambers in Union Street at around 9.10am on Monday following reports of a fire. Residents were told to leave the building and Union Street was closed.
Smoke was seen billowing from the top of the building and there was a smell of burning. The fire service sent six emergency vehicles to the scene, outside the Capital building on Old Hall Street.
Meghan Vella, 34, who lives in the building, said: ‘I heard some people from upstairs running outside and I heard a door slamming.
‘When I poked my head out of the door of my apartment I smelled smoke and that’s when I knew I had to leave."
Meghan she said she able to grab a few of her belongings and evacuate the apartment building along with the other residents.
Another resident told the ECHO that builders who had been working on the building told him to get out.
The man, who asked not be named, said: "I was woken up by the fire alarm and then I heard shouting. A builder told me there was a fire and I had to get out."
Drivers were diverted away from Union Street while crews put out the fire.
A spokesman for the fires ervice said to the ECHO: "Crews were alerted at 9.10am and on scene at 9.17am.
On arrival crews found the roof space of the five-storey building to be alight."
The scene was made safe by 10.30am. Crews damped the area down and removed wooden panels.
There were no reports of any injuries. Crews left the scene shortly after 12.30pm.
