Home UK Massive fire breaks out at Chester Zoo sparking mass evacuation

Massive fire breaks out at Chester Zoo sparking mass evacuation

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A huge fire has erupted inside an enclosure at Chester Zoo.

Visitors and animals are being evacuated from the popular attraction in Cheshire, which is home to more than 21,000 animals.

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The popular attraction is home to more than 21,000 animals (Picture: @andyl17)

The monsoon forest was billed as the largest indoor zoo exhibit in UK history when it opened in 2015.

Its home to macaque monkeys, crocodiles, snakes and the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan.

Visitors have been evacuated and asked to leave the zoo as teams work to bring the situation under control, the zoo spokesperson added.

The zoos animal teams are working to move all animals away from the incident.

We will update with more details as soon as we have them.

Chester Zoo on fire picture: DWearing1972 METROGRAB

Animals and visitors are being evacuated (Picture: DWearing1972)

Chester Zoo on fire picture: @DLClough METROGRAB PERMISSION GRANTED https://twitter.com/DLClough/status/1073911132342116353

A huge fire rips through an enclosure at Chester Zoo (Picture: Twitter/@DLClough)

Frank Riding was in the islands section of the zoo when he noticed staff running towards the monsoon forest.

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He told Metro.co.uk: Soon after a large crowd was directed out and we were advised to leave the zoo, but told we had to at least leave the islands part.

On the way out I smelled smoke then saw it billowing out of the building.

I made my way out while the staff were all keeping us calm and making their way towards the source of the smoke.

While I was waiting for the bus, the speakers came on declaring emergency exits to be made.

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dan Callister/REX/Shutterstock (526274c) Orangutan ANIMALS AT CHESTER ZOO, BRITAIN - 11 JUN 2005

Critically endangered Sumatran orangatans are housed in the monsoon forest (Picture: Dan Callister/REX/Shutterstock)

CREDIT: Chester Zoo/REX Shutterstock. Only for use in this story. Editorial Use Only. No stock, books, advertising or merchandising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chester Zoo/REX/Shutterstock (5563179c) Sumatran orangutan, Tuti, gets to grips with her new surroundings at Chester Zoo Chester Zoo unveils new home for endangered primates, Chester, Cheshire, Britain - 24 Jan 2016 FULL COPY: http://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/rvcr Chester Zoo has unveiled a new home for some of the world?s most endangered primates. The (3,607m sq) exhibit, part of 'Islands', the UK?s biggest ever zoological development, has been designed by the zoo?s primate keepers, conservationists and specialist architects from Germany. It is the new playground for the zoo?s group of seven Sumatran orangutans and three silvery gibbons ? including a 12-day-old newborn. Conservation experts estimate that fewer than 6,500 Sumatran orangutans and less than 4,500 silvery gibbons are left in the wild. The zoo hopes the new area will put a major spotlight on issues such as habitat destruction, a threat which is pushing both species to the very edge of extinction.

Tuti the orangatans gets to grips with her surroundings at Chester Zoo back in 2016 (Picture: Chester Zoo/REX/Shutterstock)

CREDIT: Chester Zoo/REX Shutterstock. Only for use in this story. Editorial Use Only. No stock, books, advertising or merchandising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chester Zoo/REX/Shutterstock (5563179j) The primate playground - a new home for Chester Zoo's Sumatran orangutans and silvery gibbons - features a huge outdoor area Chester Zoo unveils new home for endangered primates, Chester, Cheshire, Britain - 24 Jan 2016 FULL COPY: http://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/rvcr Chester Zoo has unveiled a new home for some of the world?s most endangered primates. The (3,607m sq) exhibit, part of 'Islands', the UK?s biggest ever zoological development, has been designed by the zoo?s primate keepers, conservationists and specialist architects from Germany. It is the new playground for the zoo?s group of seven Sumatran orangutans and three silvery gibbons ? including a 12-day-old newborn. Conservation experts estimate that fewer than 6,500 Sumatran orangutans and less than 4,500 silvery gibbons are left in the wild. The zoo hopes the new area will put a major spotlight on issues such as habitat destruction, a threat which is pushing both species to the very edge of extinction.

The monsoon forest opened up a few years ago (Picture: Chester Zoo/REX/Shutterstock)

CREDIT: Chester Zoo/REX Shutterstock. Only for use in this story. Editorial Use Only. No stock, books, advertising or merchandising without photographer's permission Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chester Zoo/REX/Shutterstock (5563179k) The primate playground - a new home for Chester Zoo's Sumatran orangutans and silvery gibbons - features a huge outdoor area Chester Zoo unveils new home for endangered primates, Chester, Cheshire, Britain - 24 Jan 2016 FULL COPY: http://www.rexfeatures.com/nanolink/rvcr Chester Zoo has unveiled a new home for some of the world?s most endangered primates. The (3,607m sq) exhibit, part of 'Islands', the UK?s biggest ever zoological development, has been designed by the zoo?s primate keepers, conservationists and specialist architects from Germany. It is the new playground for the zoo?s group of seven Sumatran orangutans and three silvery gibbons ? including a 12-day-old newborn. Conservation experts estimate that fewer than 6,500 Sumatran orangutans and less than 4,500 silvery gibbons are left in the wild. The zoo hopes the new area will put a major spotlight on issues such as habitat destruction, a threat which is pushing both species to the very edge of extinction.

The enclosure is home to many endangered animals (Picture: Chester Zoo/REX/Shutterstock)

One eyewitness, David Clough, 50, said high winds fanned the flames in the inflatable roof of the building, adding: We were very worried for the people and animals that would have been in the building.

He lives across the road from the zoo, and said he first saw signs of the fire shortly after 11.30am.

He added: Orangutans and gibbons are our nearest neighbours there, but there are many other animals, including free-flying birds.

It was spreading across the roof in strong winds for a while.

Lots of fire engines arrived quickly.

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By about 30 mins ago the main flames had gone, but theres a smaller fire still burning at the southern end of the roof.

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The monsoon forests director general Mark Pilgrim unveiled the Indonesian jungle house in 2015.

At the time, he said: Monsoon Forest will be one of the showpieces of Islands and home to a wide array of animals including Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques and a new species for the zoo, the sunda gharial crocodile.

This particular building will be the largest of its kind in a UK zoo and indeed Islands itself will transform the zoo so it becomes one of the biggest in Europe. The ground-breaking event is an important milestone in the construction of Islands.

Just before the flames ripped through the enclosure, Chester Zoo shared a cute video about its top ten baby animals on Facebook and Twitter.

It featured two rhino calves, one baby chimpanzee, three piglets, 21 flamingo chicks and one bear cub.

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