Four people rescued from lift after false alarm evacuates city centre tower block

Four residents were lifted from a ten-storey flat near the city centre after a false alarm triggered eight emergency vehicles to the scene.

Fire fighters told Bristol World at Finzel Reach, opposite a Premier Inn hotel and close to the busy Left Handed Giant brewery pub, that there had been reports of a burning smell coming from the building’s elevator. A turntable ladder was used to rescue residents trapped on the block’s highest floors.

A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue told Bristol World: “Crews from Temple, Bedminster, Southmead, Patchway and Kingswood were called at 13:38 on Saturday (February 18) to reports of smoke issuing from a ten-storey building on East Tucker Street, Redcliff. On arrival, crews carried out an internal and external 360 inspection of the building.

“All persons were safely evacuated, and four individuals were rescued from a lift using lift keys. After investigating, firefighters determined it to be a false alarm and the scene was left in the hands of a responsible person.”