CBD rooftop garden catches fire for second time in seven hours

A CBD rooftop garden caught fire for the second time in seven hours, with the blaze reigniting around midnight.

Firefighters returned to a CBD building after a second blaze ignited in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Dozens of firefighters were called to the Queen St building, near Bourke St, about 12.05am to reports of a rooftop fire.

It came just hours after a first fire sent plumes of smoke billowing into the air, leading to a dramatic evacuation about 5pm on Tuesday.

“It was 10 to 15m away from where the first fire was,” a Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said. “Small amounts of mulch were smouldering.”

The second fire was brought under control within minutes.

Specialist fire investigators will on Wednesday probe the cause of both blazes.

The initial blaze broke out on the rooftop of the nine-story building, causing significant damage to the rooftop garden and furniture.

People inside the building when the fire broke out were all evacuated safely and there were no reports of injuries, Fire Rescue Victoria said.

A warning was issued for people to stay clear of the area while emergency services respond.

Anyone affected by smoke was advised to close their doors and windows and switch off reverse cycle airconditioning units.

Fire in Melbourne CBD at Queen and Bourke. Well done @FireRescueVic for getting it out quickly pic.twitter.com/3NeMH0cqXP

— Andrew Eddy (@AndrewGEddy) December 15, 2020

Big fire in CBD at the roof of the Turf Bar building 131 Queen St Melbourne. pic.twitter.com/dttIIH5jxW

— Adrian R (@Age_R) December 15, 2020

BREAKING: Fire in a building near Queen Street and Bourke Street in Melbourne CBD. This picture from a @newscomauHQ reader. pic.twitter.com/rZrR9IgRF5

— Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) December 15, 2020

Building on fire in the city. Police have closed intersection of Bourke and Queen Sts @9NewsMelb @3AW693 pic.twitter.com/YxwcJ4OiWS

— Andrew Lund (@andrew_lund) December 15, 2020

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