Eight fire engines attend blaze on fifth floor of student flats in Cambridge

One person led to safety from building in CB1 area

Eight fire engines, an aerial appliance and a support unit attended a fifth-floor fire at block of student flats in the CB1 area of Cambridge tonight (Monday August 27).

One person was led safely from the building, Crick House, which was otherwise unoccupied.

Smoke could be seen billowing from a window from neighbouring buildings.

The cause is not known at the stage.

A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman told the Cambridge Independent: “The flat was badly damaged but the damage was contained to the flat and hadn’t spread further.”

She said the large number of engines on site was a standard response, following national guidance, because the building is high-rise accommodation.

The crews, who were called at 5.12pm, used two hose reels and two jets to extinguish the fire and a positive pressure ventilator to clear the smoke.

Firefighters began to leave the scene by about 7.30pm.

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