Colchester: 50 Evacuated After Barracks Fire

18 March 2014, 11:32 | Updated: 18 March 2014, 11:34

Around 50 people have been evacuated from an accomodation block at Merville Barracks in Colchester after a fire there.

Five fire crews were called to the site on Roman Road just after 2.30am. 

Station Officer Pete Donovan from Colchester fire station said: "When crews arrived approximately 50 people had already been evacuated to safety by the Army. 

"Several neighbouring accommodation blocks had also been evacuated as a precaution. 

"The fire was on the third floor of the block and had started in a bathroom and it had spread into the corridor of the accommodation wing. 

"The crews efforts contained the fire to the top floor and prevented the fire from spreading throughout the building." 

It is thought it was started by an electrical fault.