Further information from the fire service has revealed that three people were treated for smoke inhalation when atria Watford was evacuated today.
Fire alarms sounded as the shopping centre was evacuated at around 12.32pm (August 6) but once the firefighters arrived, they said that they had found “no fire situation”.
However, after the reason for the alarm sounding was investigated, it is now understood that a fire had started in a fridge-freezer inside the Marks & Spencer store.
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It was out by the time the fire engines arrived and no one was seriously hurt, but three people were treated for smoke inhalation by Herts Fire and Rescue at the scene.
The area was "lightly smoke logged" and so firefighters ventilated it to make it safe.
The fire is believed to have started accidentally.
A large part of the shopping centre around Marks & Spencer was closed as staff ushered shoppers into another section that remained open.
One atria Watford shopper described the evacuation as "very quick" with no panic while another claimed there was confusion over whether the alarm was a drill or not in the area they were evacuated from.
Atria Watford has been contacted for an update. More to follow.
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