Major Qtown CBD fire started in Speights kitchen duct

Multiple fire appliances have managed to control a major blaze in the Queenstown CBD this morning. There are no reports of any injuries at this stage.

The blaze closed all major routes into the CBD

In an interview with Crux at the scene, Queenstown Chief Fire Officer Terry O'Connell said that the fire was in the kitchen duct system of the Speights Ale House kitchen.

The fire appears to have been centred on the rear section of both the Speights Ale House and Brazz in Stanley Street and Ballarat Street.

Smoke from the blaze covered the CBD at the height of the fire

Witnesses at the site told Crux that flames could be seen rising from the blaze but that fire crews were quickly on top of the situation.

The following statement was released to Crux by FENZ.

"Just after 7am this morning, Fire and Emergency were called to attend a fire at a building on Stanley Street in Queenstown. Six appliances and an aerial appliance are responding along with additional support vehicles.
That’s as much detail as we can provide."

The Speights Ale House is an historic building that used to house the local council.

Traffic was brought to a standstill by the fire.

The location of the blaze in the kitchen duct system made the blaze difficult to control but up to 60 local volunteers managed to access the source of the fire via the roof of the Speights Ale House.

Police have issued a statement at 11.00 am saying that Stanley Street is expected to stay closed for several hours with drivers advised to use Hallenstein Street as an alternate route.