A huge fire broke out early this morning on Cathedral Green

100 firefighters were needed to tackle the blaze


At 5.20am this morning, police alerted the fire service to a large and intense fire in the buildings on the High Street opposite Cathedral Green at the South Street end. The fire started in an art gallery near Cathedral Green, with the cause of the fire not yet known. Luckily, no injuries were reported.

The fire spread to the adjacent hotel, the Royal Clarence, but all staff and guests were evacuated as a precaution and accounted for. Large parts of the city centre, including bits of the High Street remain cordoned off, and there is no access to or from Cathedral Green. Smoke can still be seen from the building this mid-morning.

At its peak, the fire was declared a ‘major incident’ by emergency services.

Credit: Harriet Bradshaw

Exeter Police Chief Superintendent Sam de Reya on Twitter:

As first reported by the Exeter Express and Echo, here’s a statement from Devon and Somerset Fire Service

“The Fire Service started receiving a large volume of calls reporting a fire at the above location in Exeter.

“On arrival crews confirmed that smoke and flames were issuing and promptly confirmed they required a total of ten fire appliances and also one aerial ladder platform.

“At 05:31 a message was passed that not all persons were accounted for and another priority make up was put in place for another five fire appliances and another aerial ladder platform.

“The fire is involving The Royal Clarence Hotel and the Waterstones Shop and has been declared as a Major Incident.

“Crews are currently at work using six breathing apparatus, one main jet, two monitors from a hydro platform, two ground monitors and also a drone has been brought to the incident to provide assistance. “