Zoo team “assessing the situation to account for all the animals” after huge fire at Chester Zoo

A large fire broke out at Chester Zoo this morning, prompting the evacuation and closure of the zoo.

The fire was reported at 11:28am and there are currently 15 appliances in attendance. Crews have been using breathing apparatus and main jets to tackle the blaze in a building that is 100m x 25m big.

The Zoo themselves have said this afternoon: “The zoo’s teams are now assessing the situation. Critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and other mammals are all accounted for. We working hard to account for all other species.

“The zoo remains closed. The zoo’s The Lanterns event this evening has been cancelled and ticket holders notified by email.”

Update: Cheshire Fire Service have deleted the below update that noted all animals were accounted for, with the line being replaced with “The team at the zoo are assessing the situation to account for all the animals.”

Earlier updates below…

Cheshire Fire Service have said there has been no reports of any injuries after the large fire earlier today at Chester Zoo.

In the latest update they say: “The zoo has been evacuated and all animals are accounted for. There are no reports of any injuries at this time.

“Drivers are advised to avoid the area.”

There are currently 15 fire appliances in attendance at the scene.

Original information below…

Fire crews are responding to a large fire at Chester Zoo that is believed to have started due to an electrical fault.</p

UPDATE 12:50pm: “We can confirm that the fire brigade is currently fighting a fire in our Monsoon Forest habitat. Visitors have been evacuated & our response team is working alongside emergency services to bring the situation under control. The zoo is now closed. We’ll update as soon as we can.”

Earlier update below… Chester Zoo have issued a holding statement this lunchtime, “We can confirm that the fire brigade is attending a fire in our Monsoon Forest habitat. “Visitors have been evacuated and asked to leave the zoo as teams work to bring the situation under control.” “The zoo’s animal teams are working to move all animals away from the incident.” The fire has occurred in the ‘Monsoon Forest’ section of the zoo, one of the newest sections of the Islands that opened in 2015. Emergency services were called at 11:40am, and no humans are believed to have been injured.

Several fire engines have been seen heading to the zoo, with the fire believed to be in the newest ‘Islands’ part of the attraction.

There is no update as of yet on either animals or humans affected.

The zoo is being evacuated.

4 engines on site – failed and smoke pic.twitter.com/slHBPwfOzh

— David Alan Wearing (@DWearing1972) December 15, 2018

Oh gosh!! Fire @chesterzoo staff and keepers working hard to deal – hope the animals are all OK!!! It started as a little fire in the which we saw but it’s obviously much worse now!!! pic.twitter.com/GWa6X0Wxa9

— Sophie Flynn (@EssexFLO) December 15, 2018

Oh gosh!! Fire @chesterzoo staff and keepers working hard to deal – hope the animals are all OK!!! It started as a little fire in the which we saw but it’s obviously much worse now!!! pic.twitter.com/GWa6X0Wxa9

— Sophie Flynn (@EssexFLO) December 15, 2018

Chester zoo fire seems to be getting worse….The fire has broken through in multiple places…. Tragic news …Hope all staff..firefighters..Animals and visitors are ok pic.twitter.com/T64VpnLZEO

— FYJ Joinery (@FYJJoinery) December 15, 2018

Big fire at @chesterzoo Really hope staff, visitors, and animals are getting out. pic.twitter.com/BJEoTCcdJt

— David Clough (@DLClough) December 15, 2018