The Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln was evacuated while Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue tackled a fire on the premises.
Three appliances were in attendance at the fire, which started at around 10am on Tuesday, September 3.
The fire was in the lift motor room on the second floor of the building, and was triggered by a smouldering expansion joint in an old lift shaft.
The shopping centre was evacuated while fire fighters attended the incident. They extinguished the fire and will reinspect later in the day.
The road was closed between St Swithin’s Square and Saltergate during the operation.
Waterside reopened to the public at around 12.20pm.
Roy Greening, General Manager at Waterside Shopping Centre, thanked customers and staff at the centre’s retailers for their co-operation.
“Public safety is paramount,” said Roy. “We called the fire brigade following a fire alarm activation and smoke being spotted in an old lift shaft area and the power in the centre was turned off as a precaution.
“The smouldering joint and surrounding area was made safe in just a few hours and we were given permission to reopen the centre.
“We have stringent and well rehearsed safety procedures in place for incidents like this and thankfully, we don’t have to use them very often at all but I would like to thank everyone for the calm way in which they left the centre this morning and also the fire brigade for their swift response.”
Part of Waterside Shopping Centre is one month into an 18-month redevelopment project worth £9 million, which will also bring retailer H&M in the city, and Next back on the High Street.
Staff and shoppers at Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln have been evacuated while the fire is being tackled.
The High Street entrance to Waterside Shopping Centre has been temporarily closed.
3 crews attending Waterside Centre, Lincoln – smouldering joist in lift motor room. Premises has been evacuated. More info as we have it.
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