UK: Large Fire Breaks Out at Construction Site in Reading; Firefighters Manage to Put Out Blaze

A huge fire broke out in the city center of Reading, west of London, on Thursday morning (November 23). The fire, which could be seen from across the city, broke out in a building that was under construction.

In a hair-raising scene, a workman was seen struggling to escape the inferno using a basket attached to a crane, while the operator did his best to lift him to safety.

Videos of the whole ordeal quickly became viral on social media.

The man in the camera was one of two who were rescued by the crane operator, and both were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation.

No one else was hurt in the fire.

The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire has since been extinguished but crews remain at the scene to dampen down the affected areas, the BBC reported.

Fire in Construction Site Under Control, Firefighters Say

The building that caught fire was part of the £750 million ($940 million) Station Hill development, located near Reading Station. The complex was intended to be a business and living quarter for the town.

Office workers in nearby buildings told local media that they were told to evacuate their building due to the fire.

"You could literally feel the heat, a guy in my lobby said fire and I was like, 'woah,'" an eyewitness said. "No idea how it started."

"The windows look like they are going to smash and shatter on you," another recalled.

Redwood Consulting, on behalf of Station Hill, said in a statement that they have "activated [its] fire emergency plans immediately" and immediately notified emergency services.

"The safety of those on-site and the wider public is always our first priority, and the site has been evacuated as a result," the firm added.

Thames Valley Police was also called to the incident and said that road closures had been put in place from Forbury roundabout to Forbury Road, Friar Street, and Friar West.

Police added that it was working to allow access for residents to premises that had not been affected by the fire and to the nearby hotels.