BLAZE AT CITY FLATS

DOZENS of firefighters were called to a blaze which saw a high-rise block of flats in Cardiff city centre evacuated in the early hours of Saturday. Around 40 firefighters from South Wales Fire and Rescue rushed to the scene at Landmark Place in Churchill Way, near Queen Street, just before 2am.

Five crews – from Cardiff Central, Roath, Whitchurch and Ely – attended the scene to tackle an incident involving “the unsuitable use of smoking materials in a flat” at the 17-storey building.

It is unclear which flat on which floor was affected by the fire. The building is home to 273 flats.

The whole building was evacuated while firefighters tackled the blaze with two jets and special appliances. Crews left the scene just after 3am.

Callum McCarthy, 20, from Gabalfa, was in the area at the time of the fire.

The former young firefighter said: “I was there around 2am and there were crews from Cardiff Central present. I was speaking to one firefighter and he said it was incense sticks. Altogether it lasted about an hour to an hour and a half.”

Now South Wales Fire and Rescue are reminding residents of the importance of knowing how to get out of a building if there is a fire.

A spokeswoman said: “South Wales Fire and Rescue would like to take this opportunity to remind residents of the importance of home fire safety and to have a safe and practical bedtime routine. It’s a chance to remind you and your family of an escape plan and, where residents live in flats or other high or low-rises, to know the escape plan and routine from your floor and building.

“Further information regarding the strategy or escape plan from your building will be available from your landlord or building management agent.”

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