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Maternity hospital evacuated after large fire

Dawn Limbu
BBC News, Bristol
Dramatic footage shows the scale of the blaze

Pregnant women have been evacuated from a maternity hospital after a large fire broke out.

Black smoke was seen over St Michael's Hospital on Southwell Street, in Bristol shortly before 16:30 BST. Firefighters from Avon Fire and Rescue Service are attending and say the fire has now been extinguished.

Pregnant women and babies were moved outside of the building, ed by midwives who brought out milk and fruit.

Jess Hutchinson, 22, whose waters have broken, said it was "scary" hearing the fire break out on the roof, where a number of solar s have been destroyed by the flames.

The public has been asked to avoid the area where possible.

A man stood outside a hospital that has been evacuated. He is wearing a black t-shirt.
Matthew Burden has spoken to his partner who is safe inside the hospital

Matthew Burden, from Weston-super-Mare, was inside the maternity unit with his wife when the fire broke out.

He said she was in labour with their third baby and he was "really eager to get back" to her.

"I went out to get some food, came back and obviously the alarm went off," he said.

"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."

He said he had spoken to his partner on the phone and said she was safe inside.

Some of the women were taken to the Bristol University Life Sciences building.

Black smoke coming out of the top of St Michael's Hospital in Bristol
Avon Fire and Rescue Service are on site

Prof Stuart Walker, hospital managing director for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, thanked their "amazing staff" who worked closely with the fire service to partially evacuate the hospital.

"The hospital, including the delivery suite, has now reopened to women who need to access our services and people with appointments tomorrow should attend as planned," he added.

Ewan Woodbridge Firefighters dampening down the roof of St Michael's Hospital where a fire broke out. Ewan Woodbridge
The fire is now out

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."

Avon and Somerset Police said it was ing the fire service at the scene.

In a statement on X, the force said: "St Michael's Hill is closed to vehicles and pedestrians and people are urged to avoid the area if at all possible."

Emergency service vehicles on St Michael's Hill.
Emergency services are at the scene and pregnant women are being helped by midwives

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