A major fire has roared through a three-storey building in the Adelaide CDB, collapsing its roof and sparking fears the property’s facade could give way.
The blaze broke out in the Wing Chun Academy, a martial arts centre, off Hindley Street just after midday on Tuesday.
It forced the evacuation of nearby buildings, including the Hotel Grand Chancellor, as more than 70 firefighters battled to bring it under control.
Several roads around the scene were closed and people were urged to avoid the area.
The blaze took about two hours to contain and a Metropolitan Fire Service spokeswoman said it had caused significant damage.
“Crews are currently digging away in the roof up there so they can make sure the fire is thoroughly out,” she said.
“There’s still some concern that the front facade of the building may collapse.
“Anyone would see that it’s very significant damage.”
The spokeswoman said there were no reports of any injuries and firefighters did not believe anyone had been trapped in the building despite reports of concerns for at least one person.
A guest at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, Sydneysider Molly Cooper, said she was doing her make-up when she smelled smoke and the alarms went off.
“When I came downstairs there were fireman and police officers everywhere. I smelled smoke through the whole building,” she told AAP.
“I think I was the last person to leave. I didn’t expect it to be such a huge thing until I came outside.
“There were crowds everywhere, fireman everywhere, photographers.”
– AAP
The height of the flames can be glimpsed in this photograph.
Smoke rises above Leigh St.
