By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
Twelve fire engines are now trying to control a fire at the home of Nottinghamshire County Council.
Crews were called to County Hall at 11.45am on Thursday, July 28 after a fire is believed to have broken out in the Conservative chambers.
Footage from the scene shows smoke billowing from a front window as fire-fighters use around 12 pumps to control the blaze.
Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, Ben Bradley, has described to the Local Democracy Reporting Service what has happened.
He said: “Everybody is safe, systems all worked, but there will be significant work implications for us.
“I’m not sure how severe until the fire service has done their assessments, it will be several hours yet.”
He believes the fire started inside the Tory chambers. The cause of the fire is not yet known.
A senior manager within the organisation who didn’t want to be named said: “Smoke was billowing from one of the offices on the first floor.
“When the fire alarm went off I initially thought it was a drill, obviously it wasn’t.
“We’re just waiting for the fire service to let us know what’s happening. As far as we’re aware everybody has been evacuated from the building safely.”
Fire engines from London Road, West Bridgford, Stockhill, Edwinstowe, Mansfield, Carlton, Stapleford, and Bingham stations are among those to have been called out.
Emergency services including ambulances and police are positioned across all four sides of County Hall and a cordon remains in place.
The fire service said: “We currently have 12 engines plus two aerial ladder platforms in attendance. The first floor is very smoke logged. We will be on scene for a considerable amount of time so please continue to avoid the area.”
A county council spokesman added: “We’re making arrangements for staff who were evacuated from the building to go to Trent Bridge House this afternoon.
“This will ensure all staff whose belongings are stuck inside the building are able to find a safe way home.”
The landmark headquarters, built on the banks of the River Trent in the 1930s and opened in 1946, house the council’s chamber for meetings alongside services and support offices.
It is the oldest and biggest building the council owns.
Anthony May, Nottinghamshire County Council’s chief executive, said: “The fire alarm sounded at 11.35am and we followed our fire evacuation procedures. Fire wardens cleared the building and the fire service is now managing the incident.
“The safety of our staff is our priority and the arrangements are in place to ensure that they can get home safely.
“We are also working hard to make sure that we can operate our services as normal.
“We would like to thank the fire and rescue service for its swift response and our staff for their quick evacuation. We will keep you updated on the situation as it develops.”
The police and the fire service are requesting people stay away from the immediate area.
