Probe into city clothing store fire

AN investigation will be conducted into a fire at a Cotton On store in the Launceston CBD.

Fire crews were called to the St John St shop about 5.10pm on Wednesday.

Tasmania Fire Service senior firefighter Nick Rowbottom said both Launceston crews attended the fire.

“When crews arrived there was just smoke in the building due to a sprinkler activating which suppressed the fire,’’ he said.

The fire forced the evacuation of the Cotton On store and the call centre above it.

One woman was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Mr Rowbottom said it was unclear what started the fire and an investigation would be done by the Tasmanian Fire Service and Tasmania Police.

A worker at a shop across the street said they saw “smoke billowing out of the building”.

“The smoke was just so thick you couldn’t see inside,” she said

“We saw the workers from the call centre above run out and then the Cotton On workers coming out.”

St John St was closed between Paterson and Brisbane streets for a number of hours while emergency services attended.