A HUGE blaze has engulfed a maternity hospital as pregnant women were evacuated and firefighters warn people to "stay away".
Black smoke was spotted over St Michael's Hospital in Bristol around 4.30pm.
Midwives have been tending to the pregnant women evacuated from the building.
Jess Hutchinson, 22, whose water broke before the fire, shared how frightened she was when she heard the blaze on the roof.
Matthew Burden, from Weston-Super-Mare, was in the maternity unit alongside his wife when the fire started.
He revealed that he was "really eager to get back" to her as she was in labour with their third baby.
"I went out to get some food, came back, and obviously the alarm went off," he said.
Matthew added: "They said all partners had to leave. Everyone was going down the fire exit quite fast.
"When we came out I saw black smoke, all up in flames."
The fire was extinguished within less than an hour, and the cause will be investigated, Avon Fire and Rescue Service said.
People have been urged to avoid the area.
A spokesperson for the fire service said: "We can confirm that the fire has safely been extinguished.
"The cause of the fire will be investigated."
A UHBW spokesperson added: "We’re responding to an incident at St. Michael’s Hospital, we will provide a further update shortly."
Avon and Somerset Police revealed that they are supporting fire crews at the scene of the blaze.
"St Michael's Hill is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and people are urged to avoid the area if at all possible," the force added in a statement on X.
This comes after a fire broke out at a block of flats in London.
Fifteen fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackled a blaze on Collendale Road in Walthamstow.
According to the London Fire Brigade website: "Part of two flats on the fifth and sixth floor is alight. Part of the roof is also alight."
from the London Fire Brigade reads: "There are now 15 fire engines and around 100 firefighters tackling the fire in .
"One of the Brigade's 32-metre turntable ladders is being used at the scene to help fight the fire from above.
"The drone team are also on scene."
An earlier post notes that eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters were present an hour ago.
that "half of a roof terrace on the sixth floor is alight", and that people should avoid the area if possible.
A 32-metre turntable ladder is being used as a water tower to fight the fire from above.
A drone team is at the scene to provide assistance to the Incident Commander.
51 calls were made at 1:35pm regarding the incident, with crews dispatched from Walthamstow, Tottenham, Hornsey and the surrounding areas.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown.
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