More than 30 firefighters called to Cambridge city centre fire

More than 30 firefighters tackled a blaze on Regent Street in Cambridge this afternoon (Thursday, 24 October).

The road was closed and a cordon was in place, with multiple fire engines on the scene shortly after 12.30pm.

The Cambridge Independent understands the call was prompted by a fault in the staff service lift at the University Arms Hotel, which triggered a full evacuation of the building.

There were also reports from witnesses that there was smoke in the upper floors of the building, and that the sprinkler system had gone off.

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 12.35pm crews were called to a fire involving a building on Regent Street in Cambridge.

“More than 30 firefighters are currently at the scene working hard to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading.”

The ambulance service attended, but was stood down at the scene.

The road reopened around 4pm and the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, the service said.

“More than 30 firefighters including crews from Cambridge, Cottenham, Ely, Huntingdon and Suffolk attended the incident. Crews worked hard to extinguish the fire and prevent it from spreading,” a statement from the fire service said.

In 2013, a major fire broke out on the top floor of the University Arms Hotel which an investigation found was most likely caused by a faulty air conditioning unit.

It caused extensive damage and prompted the hotel to close in 2014 for an £80million refurbishment. It reopened in 2018.